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Diefenbacher to hospital

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RS-Line IPZ Racing driver Frank Diefenbacher spent the night at Nevers hospital due to the crash he had yesterday afternoon during the qualifying session. FIA Medical Delegate, Alain Chantegret reported: “Diefenbacher suffered from a fracture of the L2 lumbar vertebra. Nothing critical, it just takes time to repair.”

Today the German driver will be transferred to another hospital – in Paris or in Germany. “He has to stay immobilized for three weeks, then he will undergo a rehabilitation treatment. We may expect to see him back at the wheel in a couple of months.”

His Ford Focus was badly damaged, but not unrepairable despite the violence of the impact against the barriers at the Licée bend. “Everything worked properly,” said FIA Technical Delegate Lionel Carre after having inspected the car. “The roll cage, seat, safety harness and the Hans head restraint absorbed the impact without problems.”

According to the team, a brake failure caused the accident due to a hole in the front brake duct. Telemetry revealed that the car’s speed at the moment of impact was 125 kph.