Giorgio Maggi and all drivers involved recap the horrific crash in Sunday’s NASCAR Euro Series PRO race – The Swiss is recovering fast from the incident
- Giorgio Maggi spoke about the nine flips he made at Circuit Zolder
- Jack Davidson and Claudio Cappelli add their view
- The crash proved again how safe the NASCAR Euro Series cars are
A moment of horror overshadowed the Sunday race of the NASCAR Euro Series in Zolder when Giorgio Maggi was involved in a terrifying nine-time rollover after a collision at the start. Thanks to the incredible safety standards of the NASCAR Euro Series cars, the Swiss driver miraculously escaped the wreck without serious injuries.
The incident occurred in the first few corners after the start, while the field was still tightly packed. A chain reaction caused Maggi’s car to be launched into a series of flips that left spectators breathless. Maggi himself described the harrowing moments from the cockpit with vivid words, recounting a feeling of total powerlessness as his world spun before his eyes.
In a detailed statement, Giorgio Maggi shared his experience during and after the accident.
“The start was already chaotic. We went three-wide into Turn 1, and it got really tight in Turn 2. I don’t remember every detail, just that I got a heavy hit to the rear twice and the car was pushed to the outside. The car started to roll onto its side more and more, until the point came where I knew: now it’s going to flip.”
“As if in slow motion, the earth suddenly turned before my eyes. The gravel bed came closer, then it collapsed over me as the roof hit the ground. From that moment on, my visual memory is black. I could only feel myself trying with all my strength to pull my arms down, because at first my hands were already touching the roof. I barely had a chance, but I just managed to get my hands to my helmet.”
“It wasn’t until the second-to-last rollover that an image returned. Everything was moving extremely slowly, as if time was standing still. I thought it was over now because it was so slow. But the car kept turning. It was a feeling of total powerlessness.”
“When the car finally came to a standstill, I initially felt nothing. I told myself not to move and to wait for the Medical Team. But then I saw the dashboard dripping and my suit was completely soaked. In that moment, I thought it was gasoline. I panicked. I waved the marshals over because I thought if it catches fire now, I’ll be covered in it. In hindsight, luckily, it was just the discharged fire extinguisher.”
“The marshals were with me immediately. Capelli and Davidson also came right away. The pain didn’t really set in until an hour later. My head was throbbing, my back and neck felt like they were electrified. My leg had probably hit the roll cage several times. I was taken directly by ambulance from the Medical Center to the hospital in Hasselt and given a full check-up. More examinations followed the next day.”
“Since there were no signs of a concussion or internal injuries, I was discharged on Monday. What remains are a laceration on my left elbow, a bruised leg, muscle soreness, headaches, numerous bruises, and bloodshot eyes, fitting for Halloween. At home, I later developed a fever. According to the doctors, this is normal when the body is shutting down. I will continue to have check-ups in the coming days to make sure everything is really okay.”
“I was very, very lucky. It could have ended badly. But the safety technology in the car worked. And I am grateful that I am sitting here and able to write this at all.”
“A huge thank you to the track staff and the Medical Team at the track, to the team of doctors and nurses at the Jessa Hospital in Hasselt, and to my family, who were there for me right away. And also to everyone who contacted me and my family to ask how I was doing. That meant a great deal to me and showed me once again how strong the cohesion is in this community.”
The other drivers involved were also relieved about the fortunate outcome and described the beginning of the unlucky chain reaction.
Jack Davidson, one of the drivers in the initial collision, explained the situation from his perspective.
“It was a difficult situation right from the start. In turn 2, the #33 car made contact with me, which tore off my front fender and resulted in a puncture. I tried to keep to the inside line heading into turn 3, but I was then hit from behind by the #48 car. Immediately after, the #33 car made contact with me again and our wheels locked. The most important thing is that everyone is okay. It’s a testament to how structurally strong these NASCAR Euro Series cars are.”
A third driver, who witnessed the incident directly in front of him, provided a detailed analysis of how Maggi’s car was launched so spectacularly. This is what Claudio Cappelli had to say.
“Coming into turn 2, my first awareness of the situation was seeing Jack Davidson’s car ahead. He clearly had a front-left puncture and was trying to manage the car by staying to the right. The situation escalated suddenly when another car hit him from behind. Because of the puncture, the front of Davidson’s car was extremely low to the ground. This caused his car to go directly underneath Giorgio Maggi’s car during the impact.”
“Giorgio’s car was weighted on its left side for the corner, which meant the right side was slightly higher than usual. This created a ramp effect. The contact instantly launched Giorgio’s car into the air. It was a horrifying thing to witness; he was just sent flying. In this moment, everything happened so fast. It was only later, when I saw the replay, that I fully understood the violence of the crash and saw the series of rolls. I was told it was nine times in total.”
“As soon as everything came to a stop, my first priority was Giorgio. I went to him to check if he was okay. I spoke with him and the marshals once he was safely out of the car. It was a terribly unlucky chain of events for everyone involved. I’m just incredibly happy and relieved that nobody was seriously hurt, which is a testament to how safe our cars are.”
The incident is a stark reminder of the dangers of motorsport, but at the same time, it is overwhelming proof of the enormous progress in vehicle safety. The fact that all drivers are well after such a severe accident underscores the structural integrity of the NASCAR Euro Series machines and the excellent work of the safety and rescue teams on site. The entire NASCAR community breathes a sigh of relief and wishes Giorgio Maggi a swift and full recovery.
Featured image by NASCAR Euro Series
