GT World Cup: Audi R8 Wins Race Upside Down After Epic Crash

At the FIA GT World Cup Macau Grand Prix, a course known for its high speed and narrow street course, Audi R8 LMS driver Laurens Vanthoor clipped the inside curb of the corner called Mandarin Bend at over 150 mph, sending him sliding down the racetrack topside down.

The crash led to a controversial victory, but one that Vanthoor was happy to walk away from calling it “a scary memory in my mind.”

Vanthoor, in an interview with Motorsport.com, said, “I don’t really know if I deserved it in a way, as I crashed and made a mistake and I am still a winner – which is very awkward.”

I can’t say I disagree, and neither can Porsche, who was also unhappy with the race results, saying in a press release:

When the race for the FIA GT World Cup in Macau was stopped and not restarted, the New Zealander Earl Bamber was in the lead at the wheel of the Porsche 911 GT3 R. However, the stewards of the meeting awarded the prestigious win on the legendary city circuit in the former Portuguese colony to Belgium’s Laurens Vanthoor – the very driver who had just been overtaken by the Porsche in a sensational manoeuvre, and had caused the race to be called off after his serious accident. Second place went to Kévin Estre (France) in the second 911 GT3 R. Earl Bamber, who was handed a five-second penalty after the start, was classified fourth.

This is yet another example of the intensity and insanity that comes along with racing at such a high level in high-performance supercars. Even the most dedicated and talented drivers can have unpredictable events occur.

In the end, regardless of the race results, we’re just glad none of the drivers were hurt and that they all walked away to race again. That’s a victory in my book, any day.

Source: Black Flag