Manufacturing unit Mercedes-AMG driver Ralf Aron has suffered two fractures in his again following a horror crash through the Bathurst 12 Hour.
Aron was driving the #77 Craft-Bamboo Mercedes when he was concerned in a frontal collision with the Tsunami-RT Porsche of Johannes Zelger. In line with the group, Aron was subjected to a deceleration of 27G.
“To start with, I want to thank everybody for the unimaginable quantity of messages which have reached me. The help over the previous days has actually meant loads to me,” he wrote on Instagram.
“I additionally wish to particularly thank the medical group on website who took care of me instantly after the incident. Their professionalism and fast response made an enormous distinction.
“Contemplating the circumstances, I’m doing high-quality and my situation is steady. I suffered two fractures in my again, however I’ve full motion and sensation all through my physique, which I’m very grateful for. Additionally very blissful to see that Johannes Zelger was in a position to stroll away from the crash.”
Aron requires motion: “Scenario in Bathurst was severe”
The incident was triggered by Zelger, whose Porsche had spun at a blind part up the hill. Zelger’s automotive was stationary on the observe when the main group, together with Aron, arrived.
The Craft-Bamboo Mercedes driver was unable to keep away from the automotive and collided with it at full velocity. Though Aron was in a position to exit the automotive below his personal energy, he lay down beside the observe, elevating rapid issues in regards to the severity of his accidents. The race was subsequently stopped.
Aron acknowledged he’s conscious of the dangers of racing on road circuits, however harassed that the state of affairs at Bathurst was severe.
“I’ve raced on many road circuits all over the world, together with Macau, Pau, the Norisring and even difficult locations just like the Nordschleife,” he wrote. “I’ve quite a lot of expertise in these environments, and I perceive the dangers that include such a racing. The state of affairs in Bathurst was a severe one, and for that motive I want to have a gathering and open dialogue with race management to share my expertise and perspective.
“This isn’t about pointing fingers. It’s about understanding what occurred and ensuring we will forestall conditions like this sooner or later, in order that racing at this lovely observe might be as secure as doable for everybody.”
Why had been there no yellow flags?
Aron emphasised that his submit was not about blaming anybody, however understanding what occurred and guaranteeing that comparable conditions might be prevented sooner or later, in order that races at Mount Panorama are as secure as doable for everybody.
After the crash, there was intense debate about whether or not drivers had been adequately warned. On the second-to-last marshal submit earlier than the accident, no flag indicators had been displayed. Double yellow flags had been solely waved on the submit immediately subsequent to the crashed autos.
Moreover, Aron skilled radio issues, leaving him with nearly no likelihood to keep away from the extreme collision.
Seven AMG crashes with again accidents since 2022
Notably, Aron’s accident marks the seventh time a Mercedes automotive crash has resulted in severe again accidents.
- Might 6, 2022: Nurburgring crash of Manuel Metzger through the second qualifying session for the Qualifiers occasion, leading to a fractured thoracic vertebra.
- August 28, 2022: Mercedes manufacturing facility driver Jules Gounon broke his fourth and fifth thoracic vertebrae within the IMSA spherical in Virginia.
- October 8, 2022: Then-Winward Mercedes driver David Schumacher collided head on with a concrete wall in a chain-reaction crash on the DTM Saturday race in Hockenheim, fracturing his first lumbar vertebra.
- January 31, 2023: Lucas Auer crashed head on right into a concrete wall through the first observe for the Daytona 24 Hours, struggling lumbar vertebra fractures.
- June 29, 2023: 50-year-old Australian group proprietor Kenny Habul, driving for SunEnergy1 at pre-qualifying for the Spa-Francorchamps 24 Hours, misplaced management in Eau Rouge, hitting the wall with the left entrance and fracturing his first lumbar vertebra.
- One yr in the past: 58-year-old group proprietor Stephen Grove in Bathurst, whose Mercedes-AMG GT3 was catapulted into the air after a collision with Habul and slammed arduous onto the asphalt. Though it was initially reported that he had not suffered any severe accidents, he talked about a crushed vertebra on Australian web site V8 Sleuth.
Aron thanks Mercedes
The Mercedes-AMG GT3 options, in contrast to most GT3 vehicles, a very strong carbon fiber seat tub with a six-point harness, bolted to the metal roll cage and aluminum car construction. The motive force’s customized seat shell is molded into this tub.
After Lucas Auer’s accident in early 2023, Mercedes-AMG launched an investigation and introduced enhanced security measures to forestall additional accidents. Whether or not these measures affected Aron’s accident is unclear at the moment.
Aron, accompanied to the hospital by his team-mate Auer, expressed his gratitude to the German producer.
“I might additionally prefer to thank Mercedes-AMG for constructing such a robust automotive and for giving me the safety that allowed me to get out alone. Thanks as properly for all of the help,” he wrote.
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