In a test accident in Motorland Aragon, Alpine driver Ferdinand Habsburg fractured two lumbar vertebrae – participation in the WEC race in Imola questionable
Ferdinand Habsburg may be forced to take a break from the World Endurance Championship (WEC) due to injury. As his team Alpine confirmed on Thursday, the Austrian had an accident during testing at Motorland Aragon in Spain and fractured two lumbar vertebrae. However, he has no neurological problems
The accident occurred last week, Alpine told the English-language edition of Motorsport.com in a statement,
It reads: “On the afternoon of March 27, 2024, driver Ferdinand Habsburg crashed the A424 at Motorland (Aragon) in turn 7 during testing. The cause of the accident is currently under investigation.”
After the accident, Habsburg was taken to a hospital in Alcaniz for examination, but was released the same evening. He returned to Austria the next day. Further examinations there revealed fractures to two lumbar vertebrae, but as already mentioned, these have no neurological effects.
According to Alpine, it is not yet clear whether Habsburg will be fit to race again by the second round of the WEC season on April 21 in Imola. “He is at the beginning of his recovery, the duration of which has not yet been determined. It will decide whether he will start the next WEC race in Imola. Alpine is fully behind Ferdinand and wishes him the best and quickest recovery,” the statement reads.
If Habsburg is unable to drive in Italy, Jules Gounon could be considered as a replacement. The Mercedes-AMG GT works driver was nominated by Alpine as a reserve driver for the WEC in February and could share the 35 LMDh car with Paul-Loup Chatin and Charles Milesi in Imola