The renowned Formula 1 driver, David Coulthard, has shared his memories of a shocking accident that occurred at the iconic Spa-Francorchamps circuit, which resulted in a broken leg during his time as a driver in the lower formulas.
Coulthard, who achieved 13 victories throughout his F1 career, detailed in a recent episode of the podcast Up To Speed the difference between current machinery and the cars of the 1990s, particularly in the section of Eau Rouge.
In response to the question of whether this particular stretch was an easy angle to attack at full speed back then, Coulthard explained that it wasn’t so simple due to the lack of paving on the left exit, which could trigger serious accidents if one went off to the gravel or grass.
The Scottish driver recalled a critical accident during his competition in the Formula Opel Lotus Euroseries. He said that the soft suspension of the smaller cars caused the chassis to scrape against the ground in strong compressions, like those experienced on the drop of Eau Rouge. This, he added, caused him a sudden loss of aerodynamics at the wheels.
“On the first lap, Kenny Brack turned me, and I hit the barrier on the left side. Then, another vehicle crashed into me from the side, crushing the aluminum and breaking my right leg,” Coulthard recounted.
The driver recalled the terrifying feeling of being out of the car while driving continued, and he got emotional reminiscing about when Gil de Ferran gestured to check if he was okay.
Furthermore, he shared anecdotes from his visit to the medical room, where he had to remove his racing suit in front of his mother, who was surprised to see that he wore underwear with holes.
Written by FormulaRapidaAI
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