FIA European Formula 3 racer Sophia Flörsch has undergone successful surgery following her horrific Macau Grand Prix crash.
The German was injured in a violent accident in the F3 race on Sunday, after launching into the air over the car of Sho Tsuboi before striking the photographer’s bunker.
An operation on her back was carried out on Monday with doctors confirming that her vital signs are stable and limbs are active.
Flörsch is expected to remain in hospital for up to two weeks.
The doctors also confirmed that Tsuboi has been discharged, with photographer Hiroyuki Minami also released.
Photographer Chan Weng Wang, who has a lacerated liver, is expected to remain in hospital for about a week.
Marshal Chan Cha should be released in a few days.
Although Flörsch’s accident was not caught by the event’s official cameras, footage quickly emerged on social media.
Guan Yu Zhou, who was trailing Flörsch said the incident was triggered by the German running into the back of Jehan Daruvala.
The Chinese driver, said: “Sophia was really close to Jehan, so when Jehan braked early she had no time to react. She hit Jehan’s right-rear, and that spun her around straight into Lisboa, and she flew into the other car.”
This caused Flörsch to spear right where she struck the crash barrier which ripped the left hand side wheels off her car.
She was effectively left without brakes and ran unabated towards Lisboa.
New kerbs have been installed at Lisboa this year to stop the touring car and GT racers abusing track limits.
Flörsch’s trajectory meant she struck it and it lifted her car into the air.
A third factor was the crash barrier, it was raised several years ago and is felt played a crucial part in saving her life.
Although she went through the fencing, it done its job of absorbing the energy.
However Flörsch’s team boss Frits van Amersfoort does not believe the nature of Macau was to blame.
“I don’t think the accident was Macau-related,” van Amersfoort told Motorsport.com. “If we go back to Macau next year, I’ll be a bit afraid but this accident could have happened elsewhere.
“We also race in Pau and F1 also races on all kinds of street circuits. Macau is a special track, everyone knows that.
“The contradiction is that everyone knows the dangers, but most drivers also say that Macau is the most beautiful track in the world. That indicates how strange it sometimes is.”
