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R.I.P. Henry Surtees


Buteo

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Up and coming Formula driver Henry Surtees (Son of former F1 champ John Surtees) died today... A sad day in racing.

 

This is the ultimate freak accident...

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aTDiYS1NVW4&feature=topvideos

 

 

:(

 

edit: Passed yesterday, the 19th.

Edited by Buteo
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From the video:

 

Henry Surtees, the son of 1964 Formula 1 world champion John Surtees, has died following an accident in a Formula 2 race at Brands Hatch on Sunday.

 

During the second of the weekend's races, the 18-year-old was struck on the head by a wheel and tyre from the car of Jack Clarke, who had spun into the wall exiting Westfield Bend.

 

Surtees was knocked unconscious in the accident and his car failed to negotiate the following Sheene Corner, running straight off the track and into the barrier.

 

Medical crews were swiftly on the scene to extract Surtees from the car, before he was taken to the track's medical centre. He was stabilised at the circuit's facility before being airlifted to the Royal London hospital.

 

A spokesperson for the hospital this evening confirmed that Surtees had died from his injuries.

 

Surtees graduated to F2 this season from Formula Renault and had taken his first podium finish in the series with third place in Saturday's race at Brands Hatch.

 

His step up to the category came after several seasons in karts, which included victory in the Junior Gearbox Championship in 2005, before a graduation to car racing in the Ginetta Junior Championship in 2006.

 

He switched to single seaters in 2007, taking a race victory in Formula BMW UK for Carlin Motorsport en route to seventh overall in the standings - and second in the rookie cup.

 

He also made a brief foray into the Formula Renault UK championship that year, contesting the final two rounds at Thruxton as well as the Winter Series.

 

In 2008 he remained in Formula Renault, taking 12th in the final standings before finishing runner-up in the Winter Series with one victory and three podiums from four races. He also contested last year's British Formula 3 season finale in a National Class car for Carlin, taking one victory and one podium.

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Yeah but he got out and walked away thought?

 

No, that was the driver from the car that wrecked first. Once Surtees was hit with the tire it was lights out. Watching the video he never adjusted the wheel, braked, etc. after the tire hit him. It almost appears like his foot hit the gas pedal once he came to rest as the engine is revving and the one good back right tire is spinning.

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Wow... thats insane. I had to watch it soo many times, and i think Mike was right, if you watch after he wrecks his back right tire keeps spinning / doing a burnout in the grass and the car is just bouncing off the rev limiter. Man... Thats so crazy.
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They do, if this was the case for F2, then this never would have happened. Absolutely crazy.

 

Seems like a pretty simple thing to have, especially at that level (don't know much beyond F1, but I'm just assuming that F2 is the feeder just bellow F1).

 

This happened in an F1 race a few years ago. Can't remember the exact details. But something happened in the suspension that unbalanced things and cause the wheel/suspension to go into a oscillation mode and one of the (carbon fiber) suspension members to fail. The wheel came straight back and stopped what seemed like 1/4" from the drivers face because of the safety cable.

 

Very unfortunate freak accident. Racing is dangerous, but you don't expect someone to get hurt at the very least die like that.

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