[Saba Sports News] In last Sunday’s Wallonia Rally, Jos Verstappen, father of four-time Formula 1 World Champion Max Verstappen, was involved in a serious crash that left his race car completely wrecked.
Since his long-time co-driver Leno Yamur was unable to take part due to an ankle fracture, Jos Verstappen was paired with a substitute co-driver, Jasper Vermeulen, at short notice. Unexpectedly, the pair lost control and went off the track in the first special stage on Sunday. The Skoda car driven by Jos Verstappen flipped over and landed upside down, sustaining heavy damage.
Fortunately, both Jos Verstappen and his co-driver escaped unhurt without any injuries. After the first day of competition, Jos Verstappen had been sitting firmly in third place overall. However, he was handed a 40-second time penalty for speeding on the road section last Saturday, dropping him down to 17th in the standings. He then suffered the serious rollover crash on Sunday morning, ruling him out of title contention for the event.
In my opinion, although the accident was dramatic and the vehicle was written off, modern racing safety design and timely rescue work prevented any severe consequences. The incident once again highlights the inherent high risks of high-speed motorsports such as rallying, as well as the crucial role of safety measures under extreme circumstances.