There is much speculation over the structural integrity of the Gallardo LP 560-4 race cars following the horrific crash at Brno, especially after the publication of still pictures from the incident.
The biggest concern is the fire and we wonder if the cars are equipped with fuel cells or if they have normal street type tanks. But other failures are observable from the pictures: the shoulder harness and possibly the seat. The on board fire suppression failed also ( you can see the extinguisher fly off the car).
The car clearly failed but it must also be said it hit the right at the juncture of the guard rail and the cement pit lane wall and if not for the fire, the driver would have had relatively minor injuries. The first perhaps a freak accident but the second, judging from the pictures, a miracle!
Ironically, the driver may have survived the fire thanks to that harness failure. Look at the picture below and you see his head was outside the car as it came to rest and the rescue operations (such as they were) began....
Lamborghini issued the following statement after the incident.
23 May 2010
LAMBORGHINI BLANCPAIN SUPER TROFEO INCIDENT
Following the incident in yesterday’s round four of the Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo, after which the race was cancelled, a unanimous decision has been taken by all teams today to cancel the remainder of the weekend’s racing.
The driver of car number 22, Giorgio Bartocci, was taken to hospital following an accident at the start of the first race of the weekend. He remains in intensive care in hospital in Brno, where his condition is currently stable.
Rounds four, five and six of the Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo are therefore officially cancelled.
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