Aitken suffers fractured collarbone and vertebra in Spa crash

Williams reserve driver Jack Aitken suffered a broken collarbone and fractured vertebra in a crash on Saturday at the Spa 24 Hours that involved three other drivers at the top of Raidillon.

Aitken's Emil Frey Lamborghini hit the barriers on the left side of the track on the exit of Raidillon but came to a standstill in the middle of the track and at the top of blind crest.

The Briton's car was unfortunately hit by teammate Franck Perera's Lamborghini, while Davide Rigon's Ferrari and Kevin Estre's Porsche also ploughed hopelessly into the melee.

Aiken and Rigon were airlifted to hospital, although they had not suffered "life-threatening injuries" as announced by the organizer on Saturday evening.

However, Aitken remained in the doctors' care overnight, having been diagnosed with a broken collarbone and a fractured vertebra.

The 25-year-old, who made his F1 debut with Williams last year in Bahrain, considered himself lucky to have escaped the massive crash with limited injurie.

"All things considered I feel fine, and quite lucky," said Aitken, who is racing in the GT World Challenge series this year as well as in the FIA Formula 2 Championship with HWA Racelab.

"I’m also sorry for my team-mates that we didn’t get to compete, and for the other cars involved.

"The aim now is to get back to the UK and start to recover as best as possible and be back in the car soon. I’m sure with the people around me I’ll manage it just fine!"

Both Estre and Perea were cleared at the track's medical center, but the works Porsche driver, racing at Spa for the Rutronik team admitted it had been a close call as he had not had any time to react to the carnage at the top of the hill, an incident reminiscent of the crash that had cost the life of unfortunate F2 racer Anthoine Hubert at Spa in 2019.

"Suddenly I saw a lot of smoke and a lot of debris in front of me over the crest," explained Estre.

"When I braked, I didn't really know where to go, cause I couldn't really see if there was a car stopped or anything.

"I just saw debris and some smoke. I stayed on my line, but then apparently I hit the Lamborghini of Jack Aitken on the right side.

"It was quite a big hit, which spun me and brought me into the barrier. So I think that's how it happened. But I'm not sure yet. As I said, I couldn't really see."

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