High-Speed F3 'Flying Car' Horror Crash Leaves Five In Hospital

A driver has been left needing spinal surgery and four others have been hospitalised after a shocking crash at the Macau Formula 3 race.

As the train of cars approached a 90-degree right-hander on lap four of the street circuit, which is almost fully bordered by metal barriers, Sophia Florsch’s number 25 Van Amersfoort Racing car reportedly had contact with another, causing Florsch to lose control and spin just before the braking zone. Some reports suggest that the car in front of Florsch braked extremely early.

Unable to slow down and facing the wrong way, the car became a missile hurtling across the turning cars ahead of it. But before ploughing into too many of them, Florsch’s car hit the kerb on the inside of the corner and launched into the air like a missile. It then clipped the top of another car, flew over the safety barrier and slammed into a marshal’s post on the outside of the bend. Hard.

The impact crushed the rear and top of the car, putting huge pressure down the helpless Florsch’s spine. Spinal fractures have been reported by various outlets, with the young driver being sent for surgery this morning. She was conscious and responsive after the crash, thankfully, and more recently tweeted a message of thanks to all the medical staff who helped her.

The shocking collision sent bits of carbonfibre and fencing flying into the busy corner, too. Two photographers were hurt; one with a concussion and another with a laceration to his liver. Ouch. Unlucky marshal Chan Cha In suffered deep facial cuts, a broken jaw and a stomach wound.

Japan’s number 31 driver Sho Tsuboi was also taken to hospital after getting caught up in the terrible collision.

The race was quickly red-flagged – for the second time. Earlier in the race a multi-car pile-up on the narrow circuit had caused a full stoppage while cars and debris were cleared away.