Most liked posts in thread: Your Complete Guide to Viewing and Following the 24 Hours of Le Mans

Steve · Jun 16, 2012

Ok, now the DeltaWing is officially "out." Too much damage to get it back into condition to limp back to the pits and officially retired by the team.

goaljnky · Jun 16, 2012

Yep, specially coming out of that hour long safety car caution. Boneheaded move, indeed.

old81 · Jun 16, 2012

Wow, Audi team, just watched from in car as Dumas spun just at the Ferris wheel. Neat in car!!!! Lap 173!

Steve · Jun 17, 2012

Q & A: Davidson on Le Mans crash (AutoSport.com)

Sunday, June 17th 2012, 15:55 GMT
Conducted and provided by Toyota Racing press office

Anthony Davidson suffered two broken vertebrae in an accident during the 2012 Le Mans 24 Hours. The Briton was taken to hospital where he will remain until Wednesday.

Here he tells the story of his terrifying crash in full and explains the circumstances prior to and after it...

Q. How do you feel?

Anthony Davidson: "I have felt better, that's for sure. I am in a bit of pain, in my lumber area, the middle area of my back. That's the only thing that hurts really so I've been lucky."

Q. What's the diagnosis and when will you be back?

AD: "Basically I have two broken vertebrae; T11 and T12. The doctors say the average recovery time is three months, but that's an average person not a professional sportsman or athlete. That estimate is to get back to an absolutely healed bone; as strong as it was before. It's more like three weeks until the pain subsides and I get my mobility back fully."

Q. Can you describe what happened to cause the accident?

AD: "I was almost completely past the car after the apex of the kink. I passed a Corvette and a Ferrari with the pro driver sticker on. They were fighting each other and I just assumed the Ferrari ahead was part of their group and therefore another pro. The car was all the way to the left as you would expect a pro driver to do. It was only when I got right up to the back that I realised it was one of the amateur-stickered cars.

"But I still wasn't alarmed, I still felt it was a completely legitimate move and thought he would stay to the left, which it looked like he was doing. I made the apex of the corner, started to brake and I was almost out of the corner when I felt contact on the left rear."

Q. Can you describe what happened then?

AD: "Instantly it spun the car, pivoted round to the left, then took off and turned upside down. At that point I felt I was in an aeroplane out of control. I knew how close the barriers were, and travelling at that speed I was going to be there in no time. That part of the crash was pretty petrifying. It crashed back down to the ground, I felt an almighty punch up my spine when the car hit back down on four wheels. I still had my eyes closed and my hands off the wheels, in the brace position. Half a second after that I had the forward impact into the barrier.

Q. What happened when the car came to a stop?

AD: "I reopened my eyes and realised I was still here, albeit in a bit of pain. I had feeling and could move my feet; everything was working. I know I should stay in the car, especially with back pain, but initially I felt full of panic and claustrophobia, I just had to get out of the car. It was really odd. I banged the door open and clambered out carefully because I knew I was in pain. I had to stretch out and the closest point was the side of the car, then the medics came over."

Q. Has the team visited you already?

AD: "All the drivers have been. Stephane and Sebastien turned up last night, the #7 guys this morning and it was a nice touch that my team-mate last year Sebastien Bourdais came to the medical centre. It was nice to see a familiar, friendly face at that moment. All the team came over this morning to check how I was. "

Q. What is your feeling about the TS030 Hybrid's race debut?

AD: "When the team visited we all gave each other a pat on the back for our performance. More than anything, we wanted to show the speed of the car. When we look back, even from my hospital bed, there were a lot of positives. We needed to tick many boxes this weekend and being fast was one of them. We had a great qualifying session, splitting the Audis, and showed great pace in the race to take the lead through Nico in the #7. I think that was really good for the fans."
Click to expand...

Steve · Jun 18, 2012

:lol:

Anthony Davidson said: "Some of my car crew came to see me today and left this by my bedside! I said 'is that all that's left?'"

Little Wing · Jun 18, 2012

That's funny!
Davidson is one lucky guy to come out of that wreck alive.
I can't imagine what it must have been like for his loved ones and friends to see that happen.

Metalman · Jun 24, 2012

Grease & Gears Super Slo Motion 24hr Le Mans

Enjoy....
Le Mans 24h 2012 - All Super Slow Mo Shots

rum4 · Jun 24, 2012

nice shots

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