In Remembrance
Few things are as thrilling as motorsports, where drivers push their vehicles to the limits of speed and power. But with those thrills comes a whole lot of danger.
Here are ten disasters that left their mark on the world of racing.
Ayrton Senna, 1994 San Marino Grand Prix
Many fans of racing considered Ayrton Senna to be one of the world’s best Formula One drivers, which probably made his fatal crash all the more shocking.
It happened during the weekend of the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix, which had already proved deadly after Austrian driver Roland Ratzenberger crashed into a barrier during qualifying.
Gabriele, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
A Rough Start
Senna had an Austrian flag in his car, which he had planned to raise in memory of Ratzenberger as he crossed the finish line. Sadly, he never got the chance.
Senna’s race on the Imola circuit got off to a rough start, with Pedro Lamy and JJ Lehto crashing at the beginning of the competition. But it was the seventh lap that would prove deadly for Senna.
Iwao from Tokyo, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
The Accident
As Senna passed the Tamburello corner at 192 mph, his car veered off the track. He managed to slow down to about 131 mph—but still couldn't stop his car from hitting a concrete wall.
The force of the collision tore off the front of Senna's car and sent pieces of the suspension and steering flying into the cockpit, killing the legendary driver.
What Changed?
After Ayrton Senna’s fatal crash, F1 took steps to make things safer for drivers. They placed restrictions on the size of engines, reinforced and raised the walls of the cockpit, and strengthened the suspension to prevent wheels from coming off.
They also changed the design of Formula One tracks, creating more space between the track and the walls, which gave drivers more time to slow down before a collision.
Instituto Ayrton Senna, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Richard Petty, 1970 Rebel 400
Glass windows are a rare sight on race cars because they add weight and present too much of a hazard after collisions. In NASCAR vehicles, the openings for windows are covered with safety nets—and drivers can thank Richard Petty’s crash at the 1970 Rebel 400 in Darlington, South Carolina for that safety feature.
Nothing There
Before 1970, window openings on race cars were just left uncovered. Petty was driving a Plymouth Road Runner when he cut a tire in lap 176 of the race, sending him crashing into a wall.
The car flipped several times, with Petty’s arm and shoulder getting injured after falling outside the window.
What Changed?
While he was severely injured, Petty miraculously survived the crash. He went on to race for many more years. After the 1970 accident, Petty helped NASCAR develop safety netting to cover the driver’s side window of cars, which has probably saved countless other drivers.
Jules Bianchi, 2014 Japanese Grand Prix
Jules Bianchi’s passing was a shock to the racing world, since it was the first F1 Grand Prix fatality since the loss of Ayrton Senna twenty years earlier. Bianchi’s fatal crash happened at the 2014 Grand Prix, but he didn’t succumb to his injuries for another nine months, in July 2015.
Steve, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Wet Conditions
It was raining on the day of the race and the slick conditions had already proved dangerous—driver Andrian Sutil crashed during lap 42, requiring a crane to get him out of the wreckage.
One lap later, Bianchi lost control of his vehicle, careening into the massive crane that had been sent to help Sutil. It was a shocking accident that left people questioning what had happened.
Morio, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
What Changed?
The Federation Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) pointed to several factors that led to Bianchi’s crash, including the wet track, the speed of the car, and a mechanical error in the car.
In the end, Formula One changed drainage regulations for tracks and also changed race start times, so that drivers wouldn’t be racing in the dark.
Norimasa Hayashida, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Thomas Maldwyn Price, 1977 South African Grand Prix
Though he passed on decades ago, Thomas Maldwyn Price still holds the title of the only Welsh driver to win a Formula One race and lead an F1 World Championship Grand Prix.
At the practice session for the 1977 South African Grand Prix, he made the fastest run in the wet conditions, beating out champions like Niki Lauda and James Hunt. Sadly, the actual race would see his burgeoning career cut short.
Christian Sinclair, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
The Marshal
In the middle of the race, a Junior Marshall named Frederik Jansen van Vuuren made a fatal error: He ran onto the track. Van Vuuren was trying to save another driver from a burning car, so he ran out with a 40-lb fire extinguisher. One of the panel beaters followed van Vuuren onto the track.
That turned out to be a fatal mistake.
Christian Sinclair, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Close Call
Tom Pryce was hot on the heels of driver Hans-Joachim Stuck when the two pit hands ran onto the track. Stuck managed to move over at the last second, just barely missing the panel beater. But Pryce couldn’t see van Vuuren in time to maneuver around him.
Martin Lee, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
The Accident
Pryce was going 170 mph when he hit van Vuuren. The young marshal went flying into the car and perished on impact.
The fire extinguisher that van Vuuren was holding also went flying—right into Pryce's head. The force of the blow was so strong, it killed Pryce almost immediately.
Croes, R.C, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
What Changed?
After Pryce’s tragic accident, F1 officials introduced stricter protocols for marshals and other pit hands in the event of an emergency on the track.
They also improved the yellow and red flag system, so that drivers and teams would be immediately informed of emergencies.
Richard Hoare, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Scott Kalitta, 2008 National Hot Rod Association SuperNationals
In June 2008, Scott Kalitta got behind the wheel of his Funny Car (a dragster with the engine placed in front of the driver), ready to outrun the other competitors at the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) SuperNationals.
Unfortunately, there was nothing funny about Kalitta’s race that day.
twm1340, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
The Explosion
Kalitta was no amateur when it came to racing in Funny Cars and won the NHRA series championship twice before in 1994 and 1995. But in the 2008 season, things took a fatal turn during his qualifying run.
Kalitta was going 300 mph when his engine exploded near the finish line.
The Accident
Kalitta’s parachutes were damaged in the explosion and failed to slow the car. An investigation after the crash showed that Kalitta hit the brakes, but the clutch was locked, powering the rear wheels.
Kalitta hit a sand trap at about 125 mph, which sent his car over the concrete wall at the end of the track. He was rushed to a hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival.
Eddie Maloney, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
What Changed?
After Kalitta’s fatal crash, the NHRA limited the speed of vehicles, reduced the length of the tracks, and made sandpits and runoff areas larger so that other drivers would have a real chance at slowing down before hitting barriers.
twm1340, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Niki Lauda, 1976 German Grand Prix
Niki Lauda was no stranger to driving on a wet track but the conditions during the 1976 German Grand Prix almost led to his doom. Some parts of the track were slick while others were dry, and Lauda ran into trouble at the Bergwerk corner, which was known for being dangerous.
Christian Sinclair, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
The Inferno
As Lauda made the turn, he lost control of his car, spinning a dirt bank before bouncing back onto the track. But by that point, the vehicle was engulfed in flames—and Lauda was trapped inside.
Christian Sinclair, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
No Help Coming
Louda crashed on a 14-mile stretch of the track that was difficult for emergency services to get to. With no sign of professional assistance , four drivers—Brett Lunger, Harald Ertl, Arturo Merzario, and Guy Edwards—stopped racing and pulled Lauda from the fiery wreck.
He was alive, but the danger hadn’t passed.
A Miraculous Comeback
Lauda suffered severe burns from the crash and fell into a coma on the way to the hospital. Because he’d been stuck in the cockpit, he’d inhaled hot, poisonous gasses that damaged his lungs.
In the hospital, the situation was so dire that they were sure he was a goner, and had a priest read him his last rites. Miraculously, though, Lauda survived and stepped back onto the racetrack just six weeks later.
Hans van Dijk, Wikimedia Commons
What Changed?
Niki Lauda’s crash proved that the old Nürburgring track had become too dangerous, mainly because the emergency helicopter only landed on one side of the track. That meant it took up to six minutes to get to Lauda's crash.
If he didn’t get help from his fellow drivers, he most likely would have died before emergency crews could get to him. In addition to rebuilding the track, F1 also reduced the length of European grand circuits.
Waerfelu, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Dale Earnhardt, 2001 Daytona 500
Even people who don’t watch NASCAR know that Dale Earnhardt was a legend on the track. They also know about his tragic death, which aired on live television.
The race had already proven to be dangerous in lap 173, when a massive crash saw 18 cars eliminated from the competition. Yet, it was the final lap that would end in complete tragedy.
Darryl Moran, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Securing Their Victory
Earnhardt was in third place, blocking Sterling Marlin from getting ahead of him. He was also making sure that his son, Dale Earnhardt Jr, and his protégé, Michael Waltrip, stayed in the lead.
But as Earnhardt took the final turn of the final lap, his car tapped Marlin’s and careened off course.
James Phelps, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
It Got Worse
Earnhardt managed to turn the car back onto the track…only to cross in front of Ken Schrader. Schrader hit Earnhardt’s car, dragging it up the racetrack until Earnhardt hit a retaining wall head-on.
It’s estimated that he was going about 160 mph and the impact of the collision broke the rear wheel assembly of the car, sent the hood slamming into the windshield, and, ultimately, took the life of a racing legend.
What Changed?
In the end, Waltrip won the race that day, but with the loss of Dale Earnhardt Sr, it was a bittersweet victory. After Earnhardt’s demise, NASCAR opened its safety research center and implemented regulations that required drivers to wear high-tech head and neck protection.
To discourage unsafe driving, they also changed the point system. The changes seem to have worked, and there haven't been any fatalities since the loss of Earnhardt.
Dave MacDonald, 1964 Indianapolis 500
Dave MacDonald made a name for himself racing in Corvettes and Shelby Cobras but his rise to prominence was cut short by a deadly accident. MacDonald was in the second lap of the 1964 Indianapolis 500, exiting the fourth turn when he crashed into the inside wall of the track.
The crash was bad enough, but then came the flames.
Vintagesportscars, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Pileup
The flaming car slid back onto the track, causing six other cars to crash as their drivers were blinded by the smoke and fire. Eddie Sachs was the unluckiest one, and he t-boned MacDonald’s car.
Sachs died instantly but the impact only made the fire bigger.
Vintagesportscars, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
What Changed?
Officials were able to pull MacDonald out of his car alive, but the burns he sustained were too much. Two hours after the accident, he passed on in hospital.
MacDonald’s crash was a tragic shock, but it did lead to better safety standards at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, including the use of better fuel cells and putting limits on the amount of fuel cars could carry.
The Enthusiast Network, Getty Images
The 1986 Tour De Corse Rally Race
With races run on real roads and few barriers between the race cars and bystanders, it’s easy to see why rally racing is one of the most thrilling kinds of motorsport.
And the years from 1982 to 1982 were the most adrenaline-inducing, when races featured the wicked fast Group B rally cars. But as the Group B cars proved, there is such as thing as “too fast”.
He Predicted It
At the 1986 Tour de Corse rally race, Finnish driver Henri Toivonen and his co-driver Sergio Crestos met their end behind the wheel of a Lancia Delta S4.
Because of their location on the course, we’re still not really sure what caused their fatal accident, but Toivonen’s comments before the race now seem like an eerie premonition.
Deadly Speed
In his last comments to the public, Toivonen talked about the speed of his car, and how it made it “impossible” to race in a rally like the Tour de Corse. His comments proved true when, during the second leg of the race, his car sped off the road as he tried to make a tight left corner.
With no guardrail, the car rolled down a ravine, landing on its roof. Seconds later, it exploded.
Tennen-Gas, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
What Changed?
The final verdict was that the speed of Toivonen’s car was to blame for his loss of control on the turn. Makes sense considering the Lancia Delta S4 cranked out more than 500 brake horsepower and could go from 0 to 60 mph in just 2.5 seconds.
Such capabilities were common in Group B cars, and since they were eventual deemed impossible to race safely, the whole Group B class was banned from rally racing.
Thesupermat, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Pierre Levegh, 1955 Le Mans
All of the crashes on this list were tragic, but there’s a reason that they call Pierre Levegh’s fatal accident the worst crash in motorsports.
Levegh was competing in the 1955 24 Hours of Le Mans race, driving a Mercedes, when a series of freak accidents turned it into one of racing’s darkest days.
The Accident
During the race, driver Mike Hawthorne cut into the pits, which caused the driver behind him, Lance Macklin, to swerve. Unfortunately, Macklin’s evasive maneuver sent him right into the path of Levegh.
Levegh’s car ran up the side of Macklin’s before flying into the air. Levegh was flung from the vehicle and died on impact—but he was only the first casualty that day.
Mass Casualties
The car hit a retaining wall which scattered pieces of the vehicle into the crowd. Moments later, it burst into flame. 83 people were killed and over a 100 more were injured.
What Changed?
This accident marked an important shift in the world of racing as it opened people’s eyes to just how dangerous motorsport could be. As a result, people began to make tracks safer not just for drivers, but spectators too.
Mercedes also took a beat and wouldn’t return to the world of auto racing until 30 years later.
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
_-_geograph.org.uk_-_5492427.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}