Teenage race car driver involved in horrific airborne crash says the scariest moment came AFTER the high-speed accident
- Sophia Florsch was 17 when her car flew off the tracks at the Macau Grand Prix
- The German racer underwent marathon surgery to repair fractured vertebra
- Florsch, now 18 and back in Germany, said injuries are getting better every day
- She said the accident happened extremely quickly and didn’t feel like flying
A teenage race driver who fractured her spine in horrific airborne crash says she can’t believe it’s her in the video footage watched by millions.
Sophia Florsch was 17 when her car flew off the tracks in the Formula Three World Cup at the Macau Grand Prix and into a hut housing officials last month.
The German racer, now 18, underwent a marathon surgery to repair her fractured vertebrae and remove a bone splinter, which has narrowly missed stabbing into her spinal cord.
Ms Florsch was 17 when her car flew off the tracks in the Formula Three World Cup at the Macau Grand Prix and into in a hut housing officials last month (pictured)
Despite the terrifying airborne crash caught widely on camera, Ms Florsch was immediately worried about a substance in and around her eyes – cloud from the fire extinguisher.
‘My first thought was actually, I had something in my mouth and something in my eyes because the fire extinguisher went on,’ she told Seven News.
Ms Florsch who has returned to Germany for further rehabilitation said every day her injuries are getting better.
The young racer who remained conscious throughout the ordeal said the accident happened extremely quickly and didn’t feel like flying.
Ms Florsch explained that formula cars don’t have a brake light system so it’s difficult to gauge when someone brakes.
Before the accident, Ms Florsch went for a ‘move’ but didn’t realise the car in front of her was losing speed.
She lost the left side wheels and was unable to control the car which had a mind of its own.
The young racer who remained conscious throughout the ordeal said the accident happened extremely quickly and didn’t feel like flying
‘I was really shocked (be)cause in the car it felt really different so even if I watch it now I don’t think it’s me crashing,’ Ms Florsch said.
‘On the other side it’s really cool and nice to know that, three-and-a-half weeks later I’m here and can nearly do anything.’
Ms Florsch added the crash was positive for attention but she would have preferred to receive fame for her successes.
In her interview with Seven News, she was shown a personalised video message from Australian F1 driver Daniel Ricciardo.
The Perth racer who recently left Red Bull wished Ms Florsch well for her recovery.
Despite the terrifying airborne crash caught widely on camera, Ms Florsch was immediately worried about a substance in and around her eyes – cloud from the fire extinguisher (pictured)
Ms Florsch (pictured before the race) added the crash was positive for attention but she would have preferred she received fame for her successes
Ms Florsch appeared flattered by the kinda video, claiming it was cool to see the successful F1 driver was still normal.
On her way home to Germany after the accident, Ms Florsch bumped into Ricciardo at Dubai Airport.
‘Look who I met at Dubai airport before flying home earlier this week. Coolest Aussie driver,’ she wrote.
Ms Florsch said the accident was not enough to make her stop racing and she wants to make F1.