Macau Grand Prix horror crash leaves five injured and teenage driver Sophia Floersch with a spinal fracture

Van Amersfoort Racing driver lost control of her car after a collision heading towards the Lisboa bend, careering into another driver before being launched into the air

The car of Sophia Floersch moments before it hit an area of marshals and photographers at the Macau Grand Prix. Screen grab from Twitter
Powered by automated translation

Teenage German driver Sophia Floersch suffered a terrifying airborne crash at the Macau Grand Prix's Formula Three race on Sunday, injuring herself and four others.

Five people including Floersch were admitted to hospital, with the 17-year-old remaining conscious, according to medical reports by the Macau Grand Prix sent to various news outlets, adding further updates will be provided "as soon as possible".

Floersch, of Van Amersfoort Racing in her debut season in Formula 3, lost control of her car after a collision with Jehan Daruvala heading towards the Guia Circuit's Lisboa bend, a sharp right-hander, careering into another driver - Sho Tsuboi - before being launched into the air.

The German teenager, running 16th, lost control in a contact down the straight, launched off a kerb and bounced off Tsuboi's TOM's Racing car.

A statement from Van Amersfoort Racing said 17-year-old Florsch has been diagnosed with a spinal fracture. Floersch later tweeted that she is "fine" but will have an operation on Monday morning.

The Lisboa corner comes at the end of a straight where cars can reach speeds of more than 160mph.

This is the 65th Macau Grand Prix, a challenging street circuit. The race was delayed following the crash eventually won by Dan Ticktum of Red Bull Junior Team.

The marshal suffered a broken jaw, while another victim had abdominal pain from a lacerated liver, according to medical reports by the Macau Grand Prix organisers.

This was the 65th staging of the fabled Macau Grand Prix, a street circuit which has been graced by F1 greats such as Michael Schumacher senior and Ayrton Senna.

At least three people have died driving at the circuit.

British rider Daniel Hegarty died last year after hitting a barrier at Fishermen's Bend during the Macau Grand Prix's feature motorcycle race.

The Macau Grand Prix also suffered two deaths in 2012 when Portugal's Luis Carreira and Hong Kong's Phillip Yau were killed within two days of each other.

_____________

Read more on Abu Dhabi Grand Prix:

Lewis Hamilton may find he has a rival for most popular driver at Yas Marina Circuit

Ranked: Max Verstappen's best and worst races of the 2018 F1 season

In pictures: The most successful drivers at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

Ranked: Every Abu Dhabi Grand Prix that has been held since 2009

Ranked: From Hamilton to Sirotkin, how did 2018 F1 drivers score?

_______________