Formula of salvation

(Photo: ERA )

There was once a Soviet, completely in the spirit of the Cold War, detective story on a spy theme - “Death on Takeoff.” Similar headlines would probably have filled the front pages of newspapers after the private plane in which British driver David Coulhardt, victor of the last British Grand Prix, was flying from England to the Cote d'Azur and crashed into the runway of the French Lyon airport upon landing.

Both pilots were killed. The plane hit the nose and they had no chance to escape. However, Coulhard, his girlfriend Heidi Wiszlinski and his personal trainer escaped with minor injuries. For this they should thank fate, which sent them a Formula pilot as a traveling companion. Showing an enviable reaction, David pushed them out of the burning plane in a matter of seconds. He himself, having recovered from the shock, admitted: “I was sure that it was all over...” However, a medical examination showed that the Scot would even be able to participate in the next race on the Barcelona circuit.

The Formula 1 martyrology includes dozens of names of pilots and spectators who died during the competition. The probability of dying on the highway for a Formula pilot is disproportionately higher than for a pilot of a regular scheduled airliner. Only two-time world champion Graham Hill, who had already finished his career by that time, became a victim of a plane crash.

The 29-year-old Coolhardt, who nearly lost his life in the air, has so far avoided serious injury. Of course, there were accidents and broken cars in his biography, but there were no serious consequences for the racer’s health. Maybe if fate keeps you on the highway, it will also be merciful in everything else?