Sport | Motorsport

GT1 lady driver recovering after high-speed crash

Natacha Gachnang who was involved in a high-speed crash at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi is recovering in Shaikh Khalifa Hospital

Staff Report
Published: 13:37 April 17, 2010

Image Credit: Supplied
Gachnang suffered a double compound fracture of her right leg and was operated upon at the hospital.

Abu Dhabi: Natacha Gachnang, the Matech Competition driver, who was involved in a high-speed crash during Friday’s GT1 World Championship's Qualifying round at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi is recovering in Shaikh Khalifa Hospital after a successful operation.

Gachnang suffered a double compound fracture of her right leg and was operated upon at the hospital. The FIA Medical Delegate reported that the accident was not life-threatening and the Swiss driver’s condition is reported to be stable.

The incident took place during the first Qualifying session, at the end of the straight at Turn 8 of the Yas Marina Circuit, which is the fastest part of the circuit where the drivers are approaching at over 260 kmh. Gachnang is believed to have failed to negotiate the corner and went down the escape road, hitting the safety barriers.

In explaining the accident, the team said that at the braking point at the end of the straight, she started braking as normal. A leak was reported in the rear brake circuit which required Gachnang to press back hard on the brake, according to their explanation put out on the official website.

When putting pressure on the brake pedal Gachnang's foot also pressed the accelerator pedal. The front brake circuit continued to function correctly but the combination of factors led to Gachnang failing to negotiate the corner, the team confirmed.

It is unclear when Gachnang will return to the cockpit.

A TV cameraman was also injured while filming the event from Turn 8. The cameraman, Rob Hurdman from Greenlight Television, was hit by his camera, suffering a suspected broken nose. He was taken to the circuit Medical Centre for treatment and was taken to hospital by road ambulance for precautionary checks.

Qualifying results

Pos	Car	Class	Drivers	Car	Time	Laps	Gap	Avg speed
1	13	GT1	Zuber / Hennerici	Corvette Z06	02:06.780	7	0.000	158
2	9	GT1	Makowiecki / Dumas	Aston Martin DB9	02:07.705	3	0.925	157
3	2	GT1	Bernoldi / Ramos	Maserati MC12	02:07.763	4	0.058	156
4	11	GT1	Maassen / Müller	Corvette Z06	02:08.049	5	0.286	156
5	1	GT1	Bertolini / Bartels	Maserati MC12	02:08.070	4	0.021	156
6	12	GT1	Salo / Kuismanen	Corvette Z06	02:08.078	4	0.008	156
7	24	GT1	Kox / Haase	Lamborghini Murcielago 670 R-S	02:08.090	7	0.012	156
8	7	GT1	Turner / Enge	Aston Martin DB9	02:08.143	5	0.053	156
9	23	GT1	Krumm / Dumbreck	Nissan GT - R	02:08.287	7	0.144	156
10	40	GT1	Leinders / Martin	Ford GT Matech	02:08.322	8	0.035	156
11	5	GT1	Mutsch / Grosjean	Ford GT Matech	02:08.463	6	0.141	156
12	33	GT1	Margaritis / Heger	Maserati MC12	02:08.494	7	0.031	156
13	4	GT1	Ara / Nilsson	Nissan GT - R	02:08.610	7	0.116	156
14	3	GT1	Wendlinger / Moser	Nissan GT - R	02:08.652	7	0.042	155
15	41	GT1	Palttala / Kuppens	Ford GT Matech	02:08.737	7	0.085	155
16	34	GT1	Bobbi / Longin	Maserati MC12	02:08.787	6	0.050	155
17	37	GT1	Jäger / Basseng	Lamborghini Murcielago 670 R-S	02:08.798	6	0.011	155
18	10	GT1	Piccione / Hirschi	Aston Martin DB9	02:09.046	7	0.248	155
19	22	GT1	Hughes / Campbell-Walter	Nissan GT - R	02:09.446	6	0.400	154
20	8	GT1	Nygaard / Mücke	Aston Martin DB9	02:09.629	6	0.183	154
21	6	GT1	Gachnang / Allemann	Ford GT Matech	02:09.964	6	0.335	154
22	25	GT1	Zonta / Daniel	Lamborghini Murcielago 670 R-S	02:10.261	7	0.297	153
23	38	GT1	Pastorelli / Schwager	Lamborghini Murcielago 670 R-S	02:10.628	8	0.367	153
24	14	GT1	Hezemans / Piccini	Corvette Z06	02:16.352	3	5.724	147