Williams F1 reserve driver Luke Browning endured a terrifying high-speed crash in treacherous conditions at Suzuka Circuit on Wednesday – yet remarkably walked away without a scratch.
The 24-year-old Briton was taking part in pre-season Super Formula test when the drama unfolded at Suzuka’s daunting 130R left-hander.
Around 80 minutes into the rain-soaked afternoon session, Browning’s #3 Kondo Racing Dallara-Toyota lost grip in standing water.
“It was a bit of an unfortunate crash,” Browning told reporters. “I just aquaplaned and then I was just a passenger.
“In hindsight, it would have been better to pit when the rain started to come down harder. These are lessons you learn; it’s all about learning over here and today was a lesson that I’ll take forward in my career.”
His car slithered helplessly into the gravel, struck the TecPro barrier side-on and, in a sickening twist, vaulted over the Armco before coming to rest upside down. For a moment, the circuit fell still as marshals scrambled to the scene.
Browning required assistance to extract himself from the wreckage, but once clear, he was able to walk away unaided – a sight that brought visible relief to his team.
“I’m completely fine, no pain. Luckily I landed on the hay and didn’t hit the barriers, so all good. The HANS device is fantastic – it saved my neck, I would have thought.”
Kondo Racing team manager Nobuaki Adachi later confirmed the damage was “not as bad as we thought it would be at first”, suggesting the car can be repaired in time for Thursday’s second day of testing.
Browning also indicated he expects to return to action.
©X/MasahideKamio
Remarkably, the Briton’s day had been competitive despite the conditions. He finished fourth-fastest in the morning and fifth in the afternoon, his best effort just 0.685 seconds shy of pacesetter Ren Sato.
“It’s going better than we thought, to be honest,” said Browning. “We know it’s going to be difficult, the standard is super-high.
“Wet conditions have always been a strength of mine, and I think I showed that again. And considering the lap was done without the use of OTS, we look like we’re fast.
“Maybe in the dry we still have to do a bit more development, but I really want to show this team can be fast, so let’s see.”
Read also: Williams promotes Browning to F1 reserve driver role
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