Armaan survives high-speed crash

SPA FRANCORCHAMPS - Armaan Ebrahim, the 20-year old from Chennai, survived a high-speed crash during the second qualifying session here and skipped both the weekend races in the Formula 2 series.

Out on the historic track for the first time, Armaan, who missed the official practice session due to gearbox problems, and had qualified 16th in Qualifying session 1, was up to sixth place in session 2 on a damp track.

In his anxiety to clock quicker time, Armaan Saturday pushed the car to its limit and going into the famous Eau Rouge corner, clipped the exit kerb at 250 kmph which then brought his car into contact with wet paint on the exit kerb.

This immediately launched his car backwards, straight into the wall. The car then bounced off the wall across the track. At this point of time, Surtees, who was behind Armaan, clipped the front wheel taking out the whole corner. The car then ricocheted into the opposite wall till it finally came to a standstill.

There were tense moments as Armaan was rushed to the medical centre bleeding quite profusely from the mouth. However, after detailed examination, he was released from the medical centre having suffered severe bruises on his neck, back, knee and mouth.

The rear end of Armaan’s car disintegrated with the rear crash box, gearbox, differential and engine being destroyed. Armaan thus had to miss both races. He did go out for two laps in race 2, just to check the car out as the next race comes up in Brands Hatch, UK on July 21.