First Formula E Crash

Miscellaneous IRL Cars & Motorsport
1

This is copy/paste from carthrottle.com

Today’s first Formula E ePrix in Beijing ended in dramatic style, with Nicolas Prost and Nick Heidfeld colliding at the final corner as they battled for the lead. The kerbs launched Heidfeld’s Venturi Spark-Renault into the air and the barriers, with the car flipping several times before landing upside down.

Fortunately he was okay, although both drivers disagreed on who was at fault and blamed each other. Prost said afterwards:

“It was the last corner, I think it was pretty far so I braked in the middle thinking, he’s not going to try anything stupid, but he tried suicide jump [sic]. I was starting to turn in and then I saw him so I tried to move over but he clipped my front wheel, broke my wheel and then went flying over, it’s good that he has nothing because he’s a friend, but it’s very disappointing.”

With pole-sitter Prost and Heidfeld exiting the race, Lucas di Grassi took the first Formula E victory with Franck Montagny in second place. Daniel Abt took the chequered flag in third but dropped to 10th due to a penalty, promoting Virgin Racing’ Sam Bird to the final podium spot.

Video can be seen here - Formula E 2014 Beijing Finish Heidfeld Prost Crash - YouTube

I still find it amazing that Prost cannot blame himself for this incident, I’m seeing a large penalty coming his way.

2

Your title is wrong. It wasn’t the first Formula E crash. This was: - YouTube (39 seconds in)

Anyway, the Prost/Heidfeld incident was horrific. My jaw dropped when it happened. Heidfeld could have stuck that move, no doubt. He wasn’t going to fast as Prost said, and Prost also said he started to move to take the turn which is bull, and he was at least 50ft away from the start of the turn, if not more, when he struck Heidfeld. Seriously looked like Prost had learned to drive in FM5’s public hoppers with that move.

The incident made me question two things though. Sausage kerbs need to be reviewed as this is not the first time they have launched a car like that. Secondly, Heidfeld’s helmet was scraping the ground when he landed, and his head was barely inches away from hitting the tecpro when he first impacted. Seems like there is some work to around the cockpit/rollover areas to make it safer for the driver.

3

What a dramatic ending to a good race…I really wanted “Quick Nick” to win…he ran a great race. Only two months until the next one!

Finally getting my Xbox One in October - Sunset Overdrive Edition. Already have Forza 5 waiting to go in - can’t wait to try out Formula E. I did some searching through the forums, but didn’t see any repaints - have any been done?