Martin Donnelly is a former Formula One racing driver who has raced for Lotus and Arrows F1 teams
British racing driver Martin Donnelly had suffered one of the most horrific crashes in racing history. The incident happened at the 1990 Spanish Grand Prix, when he crashed into the barrier at 160mph and laid motionless in the track. Here’s everything you need to know about the unfortunate incident.
Donnelly suffered horrific injuries from this terrifying crash during qualifying for the 1990 Spanish Grand Prix at Jerez. He was driving for Lotus and the crash meant he could never ever make a comeback to F1. The good part was that he eventually survived and he, later on, became a coach in motorsport and an occasional race steward for the FIA in his post-F1 racing career.
How did Martin Donnelly’s crash take place?
When Martin Donnelly crashed into the barrier at 140 mph, it exploded into pieces. The chassis tore in two halves and Donnelly was thrown across the track with his seat still strapped to his back. However, thanks to the quick reactions of F1’s medical team, and months of intensive treatment, Donnelly survived.
Donnelly’s injuries were very serious. X-ray reports showed he had bruising on his lungs and brain – the impact was so violent it cracked his crash helmet. He also had severe breaks to both legs and lost a lot of blood. During his long recovery, he suffered kidney failure and was on dialysis for weeks. It appeared for a while as though his right leg might have to be amputated. Thankfully though, Donnelly overcame all the injuries and was able to work in F1 after recovering from the various problems.
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