MACAU—Teenage driver Sophia Floersch was set to undergo surgery on Monday for a spinal fracture after a spectacular airborne crash in the Formula Three Macau Grand Prix.
The 17-year-old German tweeted on Sunday: “Just wanted to let everybody know that I am fine but will be going into surgery tomorrow [Monday] morning…Update soon.”
Floersch has a spinal fracture, according to a medical report released by her team, the Netherlands-based Van Amersfoort Racing.
“The whole world saw what happened and we can only thank God that @SophiaFloersch escaped with relatively light injuries,” Van Amersfoort Racing tweeted. “Our thoughts go also to the other people involved and we wish them a speedy recovery.”
Video footage showed Floersch appearing to clip Japanese driver Sho Tsuboi’s car while hurtling off the track at high speed on a tight right-hand bend on lap four. Floersch’s car then went through a catch fence, hit a structure on the perimeter and dropped to the ground with safety officials immediately on the scene.
The incident prompted an immediate red flag and a delay of more than an hour before the race was restarted.
In a statement posted on social media, motor sport’s governing body FIA said “the driver [Floersch] is conscious and has subsequently been taken to hospital for further evaluation.” It added that Tsuboi and “two members of the media and one marshal were also transferred to a local hospital in a conscious state for further evaluation.”
Media reports said Tsuboi has lumbar pain.
FIA President Jean Todt posted a statement on Twitter saying the sport’s organizing body was “mobilized to help those involved and analyze what happened.
“All my thoughts are with you @SophiaFloersch and the others injured. I wish you all a safe recovery.”
Macau is a former Portuguese colony near Hong Kong.
Image credits: AP