Williams reserve driver Jack Aitken sustained injuries in a heavy, four-car crash at Raidillon during the 24 Hours of Spa endurance race yesterday.
Aitken, who drove the Sakhir Grand Prix for Williams last season, was driving a Lamborghini Huracan GT3 car for Emil Frey racing. He was involved in the collision along with team mate Franck Perera, plus Kevin Estre in a Porsche and Davide Rigon’s Ferrari.All drivers were taken to the on-site medical centre at Spa. Estre and Perera were released after initial checks, while Rigon and Aitken were taken to a nearby hospital for further investigations.
Aitken’s team confirmed this morning he had sustained “a broken collarbone, a fractured vertebrae and a very small lung contusion.” The vertebra injury was said to be “stable”.
Aitken, who has also raced in F2 this year, said he was feeling well after the crash, which occured at one of the fastest points on the circuit.
“Thank you to everyone who has supported me in the last 16 hours or so, from the marshals, medical staff trackside and at the hospital, my wonderful team, fellow drivers and all of you sending messages,” said Aitken.
“All things considered I feel fine, and quite lucky. I’ve broken my collarbone, and fractured a vertebra but it’s stable fortunately.
Advert | Become a RaceFans supporter and
“The aim now is to get back to the UK and start to recover as best as possible, and be back in the car soon. I’m sure with the people around me I’ll manage it just fine! Finally, a thank you to Lamborghini for building a damn strong chassis.
“My thoughts also go out to the marshal that lost their life yesterday at Brands Hatch.”
Rigon, wearing a spinal brace following his discharge from hospital, said he could not avoid being caught up in a “very big crash”.
“I was hit from the back and was a passenger in the car. It was a big one but I am already out from the hospital.”
“I hope to be back on track soon,” he added.
Former F2 racer Callum Ilott, who raced alongside Aitken in the category in 2019 and 2020 and who had been set to be team mates with Rigon for the 24 Hours of Le Mans at the end of this month, called for the Raidillon corner to be made safer yesterday.
Advert | Become a RaceFans supporter and
2021 Hungarian Grand Prix
- Ocon congratulated by past French F1 aces after breakthrough win
- Alpine doubt first win signals a performance breakthrough
- Vettel disqualification hearing to take place on Monday
- Why no one received a Grosjean-style race ban for the Hungarian GP pile-up
- Ocon’s “beautiful” late-stint pace was other key to Alpine’s breakthrough win
Ben Rowe (@thegianthogweed)
1st August 2021, 12:35
” Williams reserve Aitken among four drivers injured in huge Spa GT crash ”
This title is a bit confusing. It made me thing that Williams were reserving the first driver mentioned. Shouldn’t the word driver be inserted between reserve and Aitken. It looks like the team are reserving all 4 drivers after such an unfortunate incident. It wouldn’t take much to make the title be more accurate.
regs (@regs)
1st August 2021, 13:13
Half peloton keep running full speed ignoring yellow flags and the crash. I would disqualify them all till the end of the season. Or better permanently.
kpcart
1st August 2021, 13:33
that wont happen though, even in f1 they keep driving way too quick under yellows. problem with that section of track is that you cant see over the hill around corner.. maybe they need a “Very” visible automated light by the track or on steering wheel or both for any driver entering or already in Eau Rouge when an incident has happened, and that light should mean slow down slowly to a near stop… because that section at radillon is asking for more deadly crashes.
regs (@regs)
1st August 2021, 15:05
Most of them have seen it well and didn’t break. It’s not the track, it’s lack of culture among drivers.
Dave
1st August 2021, 13:52
That’s harsh.
Dave
1st August 2021, 15:06
I don’t want to talk about that. And I didn’t say “this is harsh” – the way you said was.
Dave
2nd August 2021, 10:51
You know what?
I woUlD dISQUaLifY tHem All tIll tHe enD of the sEaSOn. oR BETTER pErmANEnTLY.
Killshot.
Sensord4notbeingafanboi (@peartree)
1st August 2021, 20:26
Perhaps spend money improving the run-off and installing tecpro barriers.
Dave
15th August 2021, 20:17
You know what? You recently lost 4-0.