The Schubert BMW driver, Kelvin van der Linde, experienced a great dose of fortune in a shocking accident during the DTM race at Norisring. The former DTM champion, Rene Rast, pointed out that if van der Linde’s BMW M4 GT3 Evo had been further inside at the Grundig corner, the consequences could have been much more serious.
Rast explained that van der Linde was about to turn when a Lamborghini, driven by Maximilian Paul, hit him at high speed. If he had been a little more on the corner, the angle of the impact would have been completely different, resulting in a much more dangerous collision.
An accident that could have been worse
The accident occurred when the Lamborghini struck the front left wheel and the door of the BMW. The severity of the impact was mitigated by the fact that the Lamborghini is a mid-engine vehicle, which behaved more favorably at the moment of impact compared to a front-engine vehicle.
Additionally, the head of the Schubert team, Torsten Schubert, added that if the Lamborghini had had its engine at the front, the consequences could have been catastrophic. Van der Linde escaped with bruises, while Paul had to undergo surgery for a leg fracture.
Post-accident reflections
After the incident, van der Linde shared his thoughts on Instagram, expressing his gratitude for being able to come out of the worst collision of his career without serious injuries. He acknowledged that the event was a “wake-up call” and emphasized the importance of appreciating life daily.
Although he initially wanted to compete in Sunday’s race, the discomfort turned out to be too intense. Rast, who visited him during his hospital stay, dispelled concerns about van der Linde’s condition. “The night was hell,” Rast shared, referring to the pain he experienced after the accident.
Looking ahead
After reflecting on his condition, van der Linde sensed that the best option was to rest and prepare for the next race in Oschersleben, scheduled in three weeks. The team hopes that the driver can fully recover to return to competition, despite the initial plans to use an alternative car for Sunday’s race.
Written by FormulaRapidaAI
