Scary WEC crash sees car smash through fence full speed and end up in grandstand near fans
Footage of a horror crash during the WEC action in Portugal has surfaced, with Alexandre Areia's car flying into the stands.
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A horror crash ahead of the World Endurance Championship this weekend left spectators in attendance in shock. Practice for the Porsche Sprint Challenge Iberica in Portimao descended into worry after a car flew from the track, through a fence and into the stands next to nearby fans.
Spectator footage shows another car driving into the distance before panic hits as Alexandre Areia's vehicle skids off the circuit at high speed.
Areia collided with the tyre barrier before flipping through the debris fence and making a horrifying impact on the spectator area, leaving the car in ruins.
Luckily, no fans were seated in the area damaged, leaving nobody hurt in what could've been a tragic situation.
And Areia also emerged from the car without injury, somewhat miraculously, before heading off for treatment.
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This was during a practice session for Porsche Sprint Challenge Iberica, who are supporting the FIA World Endurance Championship this weekend ������pic.twitter.com/IESsH0yRK5
— WTF1 (@wtf1official) April 14, 2023
After the incident, Areia took to Twitter to confirm his well-being and that no one else was hurt.
He tweeted: "I was very angry. I ran out of brakes at the end of the straight. I practically became a passenger...
"Luckily, no one was in that area of the grandstand, and I managed to get out of the accident unharmed, thanks to the safety level of that car. Keep strong."
The Autodrome do Algarve is hosting the World Endurance Championship this weekend, which involves a number of support categories.
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Foi muito bravo, fiquei sem travões no fim da reta, virei praticamente um passageiro.. felizmente não estava ninguém naquela zona da bancada e consegui sair ileso do acidente, graças ao nível de segurança daquele carro, keep strong������������������������ https://t.co/H5MWdAZulr
— Alex Areia (@OneManShowz) April 14, 2023
Areia is involved in one of them, the Porsche Sprint Challenge Iberica, at the Portugal-based FIA Grade 1 facility.
The same circuit hosted F1 in 2020 and 2021, with Lewis Hamilton winning the Portuguese Grand Prix on both occasions in his Mercedes.
It was reported that 27,000 fans were in attendance for the 2020 race for the 2021 addition was hosted behind closed doors amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
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