Unfortunately, Motor racing is also this.
The words spoken by the great Mario Andretti on learning of the death of his team mate Ronnie Peterson following his first lap crash at the 1978 Italian Grand Prix.
I was hoping not to have to write anything like this but if I am to seriously blog about motor sports then I need to write about the good times and the bad. This time it is bad.
On Saturday the 28th March 2015 a fan, probably just like you or I was killed while watching a race at the Nurburgring. You have probably already read about it and seen the pictures and video. I won't include any of that here but will, send my thoughts and condolences to all involved. I hope you will too dear reader.
The incident occurred at the Flugplatz section of track, at time of writing not all details are known but video shows Jann Mardenborough's Nissan GTR leaving the track at the section airborne - perpendicular to the track not too dissimilar to an F2 incident at the track involving Manfred Winklehock at the same part of the track or the infamous Mercedes Le Mans incidents of the 90s, and crash through the catch fencing coming to rest, on it's roof, where spectators were seated. Mardenborough was unhurt, 1 fan lost their life and 4 more were taken to hospital for treatment to their injuries. The race as red flagged (correctly) and not restarted.
Nissan have issued a statement (below) and will work with investigators into working out how and why the incident occurred.
Now, please forgive me for taking everything read as truth but I have read unconfirmed reports that the spectators in question were in a restricted zone. If and it is an if, this is true then hopefully the resulting changes - if any to the circuit will be minimal. I am not trying to bypass the tragedy but, these measures are put in place for reasons. Deaths in motorsports are thankfully very few and far between these days while, spectator deaths are even rarer. Once Nissan have worked out why Mardenborough's car flew like it did, hopefully changes can be made, not just to Nissans but all cars to prevent this from happening again. As a result all GT3 cars have been temporarily banned from the circuit.
In short a catalogue of unlikely events seem to have resulted in a tragedy. Rest in peace and thoughts to all concerned. A bleak reminder of the warning seen all around circuits and on the back of the tickets. MOTOR RACING IS DANGEROUS.
Link to the Winklehock accident https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4F7mVEotx9c
It has since been brought to my attention that the spectators were not in a restricted area, and the ban on GT3 machinery has been lifted but with speed restrictions at certain parts of the circuit.
I was hoping not to have to write anything like this but if I am to seriously blog about motor sports then I need to write about the good times and the bad. This time it is bad.
On Saturday the 28th March 2015 a fan, probably just like you or I was killed while watching a race at the Nurburgring. You have probably already read about it and seen the pictures and video. I won't include any of that here but will, send my thoughts and condolences to all involved. I hope you will too dear reader.
The incident occurred at the Flugplatz section of track, at time of writing not all details are known but video shows Jann Mardenborough's Nissan GTR leaving the track at the section airborne - perpendicular to the track not too dissimilar to an F2 incident at the track involving Manfred Winklehock at the same part of the track or the infamous Mercedes Le Mans incidents of the 90s, and crash through the catch fencing coming to rest, on it's roof, where spectators were seated. Mardenborough was unhurt, 1 fan lost their life and 4 more were taken to hospital for treatment to their injuries. The race as red flagged (correctly) and not restarted.
Nissan have issued a statement (below) and will work with investigators into working out how and why the incident occurred.
Now, please forgive me for taking everything read as truth but I have read unconfirmed reports that the spectators in question were in a restricted zone. If and it is an if, this is true then hopefully the resulting changes - if any to the circuit will be minimal. I am not trying to bypass the tragedy but, these measures are put in place for reasons. Deaths in motorsports are thankfully very few and far between these days while, spectator deaths are even rarer. Once Nissan have worked out why Mardenborough's car flew like it did, hopefully changes can be made, not just to Nissans but all cars to prevent this from happening again. As a result all GT3 cars have been temporarily banned from the circuit.
In short a catalogue of unlikely events seem to have resulted in a tragedy. Rest in peace and thoughts to all concerned. A bleak reminder of the warning seen all around circuits and on the back of the tickets. MOTOR RACING IS DANGEROUS.
It has since been brought to my attention that the spectators were not in a restricted area, and the ban on GT3 machinery has been lifted but with speed restrictions at certain parts of the circuit.
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