Yahoo Autos Alpine WEC driver Habsburg injured in testing accident
Alpine factory driver Ferdinand Habsburg suffered two fractured vertebrae in a crash while testing the team’s A424 Hypercar at the Spanish circuit of Motorland Aragon, putting his availability for Round 2 of the FIA WEC season at Imola later this month in doubt.
“The cause of the accident is currently under investigation. Ferdinand was taken to the hospital in Alcañiz for examinations and was discharged in the evening,” a statement from the team read. “The next day, he was repatriated to Austria, where he underwent further examinations. Ferdinand suffers from two fractured lumbar vertebrae, with no neurological impact.
“He is beginning his recovery, the duration of which has not yet been defined. It will determine its participation in the next round of the FIA WEC at Imola. Alpine gives Ferdinand its full support and wishes him the best and quickest recovery.”
Should Habsburg miss the race in Italy, Andorran-flagged Frenchman Jules Gounon would likely be called up as the replacement driver, as he was named as Alpine’s WEC reserve driver at the launch of the A424. However, at present, he is named as a Mercedes AMG driver for GT World Challenge Asia on the same weekend.
In addition to competing with Alpine in the FIA WEC, Habsburg is also due to compete in the ELMS this season with COOL Racing in LMP2. He is set to share its No. 37 ORECA with reigning ELMS LMP3 champion Alex Garcia and former Prema FIA Formula 2 driver Frederik Vesti. The opening round of the ELMS season, the 4 Hours of Barcelona, is set to take place on April 14, a week before the WEC race at Imola.
