F1 News

Visser lucky after heavy crash: "Zandvoort next week? I will be there"

28 August 2021 at 13:06
Last update 28 August 2021 at 13:58
  • GPblog.com

On Friday, the qualifying session of the W Series at Spa-Francorchamps was shaken by a heavy crash involving six drivers. One of them was Beitske Visser. The Dutch driver was taken to hospital but did not suffer any fractures. She had, as she said, an angel on her shoulder.

Out of the car as soon as possible

Visser saw it go wrong for her in Eau Rouge on Friday. Two cars shot off the track just in front of her. "Normally you go full throttle there. But it had just started to rain. I tried to slow down, but I lost the rear of the car as well and crashed into Abbie [Eaton]", Visser told a press conference with AD.

After that, three more cars were involved in the crash, two of which crashed into Visser. The Dutch driver first hit the stacks of tyres and then went over the top and landed on the side of the car. "All I could think was: I need to get out of the car as soon as possible. But I had to sit down immediately afterwards."

In shock from the footage

No footage of the crash was broadcast on television on Friday. "That's normally not a good sign," acknowledges Visser, who explains that her family was very shocked by the crash. "It took up to forty minutes before they could get in touch with me. They saw many videos of the crash online, but luckily also one on which I climbed out of the car."

Visser has since seen the footage again herself. "I was in shock. In the car you don't have time to be scared, watching it back was scarier. I had not realised how big the crash was. But it also gives me confidence, because I came out of it relatively okay. It's also definitely proof that the cars are incredibly safe these days."

In Zandvoort back in the car

Next week the next race in the W Series is scheduled. "I will definitely be there. It's good to get back in the car quickly after a crash. I had a big crash at Zandvoort in 2012 and the next day I was driving again. It's just perfect that I get to drive again next week."