The accident between Lamborghini driver Maximilian Paul and BMW driver Kelvin van der Linde has marked the DTM race at Norisring. Paul, who was injured due to the severity of the crash, has been taken to the hospital with a suspected fracture in his right leg, while his car, a Temerario GT3, was left practically destroyed.
After the incident, Gottfried Grasser, the team owner, expressed his concern for Paul’s well-being, stating that several medical tests are currently being conducted. “He’s not well,” Grasser said, assuring that he remains in constant contact with the driver, although there are still no clear details about his condition.
Kelvin van der Linde and the impact of the accident
Van der Linde’s situation is slightly better; he felt pain in his left leg and arm, which prompted his visit to the hospital. A spokesperson for BMW reported that, although he suffered bruises, serious injuries have been ruled out; however, he will not be able to compete in the race on Sunday.
The team’s initial efforts to replace van der Linde’s car with a vehicle from the ADAC GT Masters have ultimately not been possible. The Grasser team, for its part, had no plans to start a second unit for the weekend.
Details about the crash
The crash occurred during braking at the Grundig-Hairpin turn. Paul, at the time of the crash, was going over 250 km/h when his Lamborghini lost control and collided with the safety barrier. Grasser explained that the impact tore the differential from the car, leaving it with only three functional wheels, making braking impossible.
The collision with van der Linde was so forceful that it caused the destruction of the BMW’s door. The team director expressed that it would have been fortunate if the vehicle in question had been front-engine, as the consequences could have been even more severe.
Possible cause of the accident
Initially, the Lamborghini’s brakes were suspected as the cause of the accident, but it was later confirmed that the data did not indicate any mechanical failure. Grasser pointed out that an oil spill caused by Timo Glock could have triggered the loss of control of Paul’s car.
Although Glock suffered mechanical issues, other drivers did not experience difficulties with the oil spill. However, Glock’s team director clarified that the problem was not caused by contact with Ben Dörr’s vehicle, which also ended up with its skis stained with oil.
The immediate future for Grasser Racing
With Paul’s current situation and the damage to the car, the Grasser team finds itself in a complicated position. Grasser commented that they are assessing their options regarding the repair or replacement of the vehicle, with the possibility of not being able to compete next weekend in Oschersleben due to parts supply issues.
Written by FormulaRapidaAI
