Spa-Francorchamps holds its breath after horrific 111G crash - On This Day

The article reflects on the horrific crash involving Luciano Burti during the 2001 Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps, which occurred 25 years ago. The crash, resulting from a collision with Eddie Irvine, led to Burti's car hitting a tyre barrier at a speed of 270 km/h, causing severe injuries including a concussion and brain hemorrhage. The impact was recorded at 111G, and Burti was placed in an induced coma following the incident.

Despite the severity of the crash, Burti later acknowledged the safety improvements in Formula 1 that were implemented after Ayrton Senna's tragic death in 1994. While Michael Schumacher won the race, the focus remained on Burti's condition rather than the podium. Burti transitioned to a test driver role with Ferrari after the incident, and his experience has since contributed to discussions on helmet safety in the sport.