Rally legend Mohammed Ben Sulayem has survived a high-speed crash in a Renault Formula 1 car at the Dubai Autodrome.
The smash, which caused substantial damage to the multi-million dollar car, was at a publicity event preceding this weekend’s Renault F1 Roadshows in Dubai.
Ben Sulayem was due to pilot the 2008 F1 car at the Dubai Autodrome, taking on Renault’s own drivers behind the wheel of several supercars.
After hydraulic problems delayed the event by two hours, Ben Sulayem finally took to the track in the back up vehicle but lost control and crashed on the main straight.
Barely seconds of his drag race against a Ford GT had elapsed when the Formula 1 car snapped sideways and smashed into the pitlane wall with enough force to tear the left rear wheel away from the chassis.
Speculation at the scene was that the multi-million dollar car, which was reportedly spinning its wheels as it sped up the straight, caught traction unexpectedly, which sent it into a violent clockwise spin.
“The F1 car was on the left, the GT on the right,” said one onlooker.
“They both took off at the same time but the F1 car lost control and went to the right and hit the pit wall. The wheels were still spinning on the car as he went up the straight, I seriously thought he was going to start doing donuts.
“One of the wheels was off, the whole of the front was crunched and the rear was messed up too.”
Medical staff were quickly on the scene and MBS, who is president of the Automobile and Touring Club of the UAE and FIA vice-president for sport, was checked out. His official spokesman said he was unhurt.
“Mohammed Ben Sulayem is fine,” he said.
“He was checked by on site doctors and he’s gone home. These sort of things do happen, unfortunately. There is no harm done. He says it can happen to anybody, any time. He’s taken it in his stride.”
Renault assured the public that roadshows planned for the Downtown Burj Dubai region this weekend would go ahead.
In a statement, the company said: “The Formula 1 car was lightly damaged while it was being driven by Mohammed Ben Sulayem along the start finish line at Dubai Autodrome.
“Mohammed Ben Sulayem is fine. Repairs to the car are underway, which will be ready for tomorrow’s roadshow at Downtown Burj Dubai.”
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