SUPER FORMULA’S season finale weekend got here to an abrupt halt after a horror crash that despatched a racer to the hospital.
Liam Lawson, who had been racing in Method One as Daniel Ricciardo’s harm substitute at AlphaTauri, was making his return to the motorsport after his F1 stint.
Two racers have been concerned in a giant crash in Tremendous MethodCredit score: X @MotorsportTV_UK
Hiroki Otsu and Ukyo Sasahara collided at Suzuka’s 130RCredit score: X @MotorsportTV_UK
The contact noticed each hurtle in direction of the obstaclesCredit score: X @MotorsportTV_UK
One of many automobiles broken the catch fence which led to the race being crimson flaggedCredit score: X @MotorsportTV_UK
Nevertheless, his race ended after simply 4 laps as racers Hiroki Otsu and Ukyo Sasahara have been concerned in a violent crash.
The race at Suzuka circuit in Japan was crimson flagged after the 2 automobiles smashed within the barrier and broken the catch fence, which resulted within the determination to not restart the occasion.
Otsu had tried to overhaul Sasahara on the well-known 130R for seventeenth, however his Nakajima Racing automotive made contact with Sasahara’s TOM’S, sending each spiralling into the obstacles.
Sasahara’s automotive was additionally despatched hurtling into the catch fencing behind the obstacles with the influence tearing off the rear of his automotive.
The 27-year-old was taken to hospital after the incident and identified with a concussion.
Autosport report he’s being stored in in a single day as a precaution and gained’t take part in Sunday’s finale.
Additional checks shall be made on him in Tokyo earlier than a call is made on his participation in subsequent week’s Tremendous GT season finale.
Alternative driver Otsu, 29, may even miss the Tremendous Method weekend regardless of strolling away from the crash with solely minor bruising as a result of there may be inadequate time to restore his automotive.
After the crash Otsu mentioned: “Within the early laps I handed a number of automobiles and it felt like I had the tempo to go even additional if I continued that method.
“However whereas I used to be utilizing the Overtake System I went side-by-side with one other automotive [Sasahara], we made contact and crashed.
“As a substitute driver, my foremost precedence was to return [Naoki] Yamamoto’s automotive in good situation, so I’m sorry for the group concerning the harm to the automotive.
“Although we didn’t do many laps I hope they have been capable of take one thing constructive from it.”
Repairs are set to be accomplished 8pm native time, permitting Sunday’s finale to proceed as deliberate.
Following the crimson flag, the race outcomes have been rolled again to the top of lap three with half factors awarded.
Lawson misplaced floor in his title bid after ending P6, with Tomoki Nojiri profitable the race as Ritomo Miyata and Kakunoshin Ota accomplished the rostrum.
Championship chief Miyata is 15 factors forward of Lawson within the standings.