With the 2023 edition of the famous Nurburgring 24-Hour race taking place this weekend, yesterday’s qualifying was affected by a serious accident that took place during the ADAC 24h-Classic support race. An E30 BMW 3 Series hit the barrier at Schwedenkreuz and rolled over multiple times before landing on what was left of its wheels.
Driven by Sascha Schilling, the E30 BMW 318is of the Samorai Motorsport team entered Schwedenkreuz sideways, with its nose pointing at the grass on the inside. An overcorrection saw the vehicle spinning the other way and eventually running into the guardrail on the other side of the track.
Following the initial impact, which took place on the driver’s side, the car continued backward and tipped over more than once before going nose-first into the ground, which didn’t stop the spinning. Following a final nose lift—the car once again came in contact with the barrier—this came back on the ground, ending up in the said position.
Throughout the accident, the driver can be seen assuming the brace position. And while his body and especially the head, seems to move around more than it should, which could raise questions about the tightness of the multi-point harness, the safety equipment protected him. You can notice the HANS device keeping the man’s neck safe, while the flattened rear section of the vehicle easily demonstrates the crucial role a roll cage plays in such situations.
The driver walked away and was later discharged from the hospital with minor injuries
In the piece of footage below (lens tip to Auto Addiction on YT) Schilling can be seen walking to the ambulance on his own and talking to the medical personnel. Fortunately, the man, who had been admitted to a local hospital following the crash, left the medical unit today with nothing other than minor injuries, as stated by the German publication motorsport-total.
Alas, the body of the 318i is hardly recognizable anymore—note how the line of the roll cage also protected the area around the door so the driver didn’t have to be extracted from the ruined vehicle.
The high-speed nature of the Schwedenkreuz curve is a challenge, to say the least
Schwedenkreuz is one of the most dangerous bends of the Nurburgring, despite the crest that marked its entry having been flattened out a few years ago. That’s because this downhill right-hander follows the long Kottenborn straight, with many drivers approaching the curve flat-out.
This is one of those bends that can surprise even those who are all too familiar with the layout of the Ring and one of the many reasons the German track needs to be treated with maximum respect.
