Formula 3's Macau Grand Prix was red flagged this morning following a horror crash from 17-year-old driver, Sophia Floersch, which saw the German's car become airborne before crashing over the trackside barrier and into a photographer gallery, with the race resuming after a safety inspection.
After the opening turn, various cars were involved in collisions which resulted in a safety car period. The race was swiftly resumed, only to be halted again after Floersch struck the car of Sho Tsuboi at the Lisboa Bend which sent her terrifyingly off the track into the air.
Mijn god, hier de crash vanaf de tribune gefilmd. Pas op, schokkende beelden! Nogmaals: het is Sophia Floersch die is gecrasht in de Formule 3-race van Macau. De Duitse rijdt voor het Nederlandse team Van Amersfoort Racing. Hopelijk komt er snel een update! #F3pic.twitter.com/HesSwYimWf
— Rob van Gameren (@VanGamerenF1) November 18, 2018
News of Floersch's health started filtering through following the accident, and thankfully it has been reported the driver was conscious as she was taken to hospital, along with Tsuboi and a handful of onlookers who were also involved in the melee.
FIA statement on Sophia Flörsch: "Following evaluation by medical staff, the driver is conscious and has subsequently been taken to hospital for further evaluation." #MacauGP#FIAF3WorldCup
— Luke Smith (@LukeSmithF1) November 18, 2018
Dan Ticktum led the race before the incident following his acquisition of pole position, with action resuming in Macau just over an hour after a safety inspection.
Subsequent reports released show that Floersch suffered a fractured spine during the incident.