Two drivers killed at Nurburgring race track ahead of Esteban Ocon's record attempt
Two drivers have died in Germany.
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Two drivers have tragically died in a crash at the Nurburgring on Wednesday during industry-pool testing. Both of the deceased were Goodyear employees and had taken to the track to perform a tyre test in a Porsche on Wednesday morning.
One of the victims has been named as Christan Franck, a 39-year-old test driver and racer. The other has not been identified at the time of writing.
In a statement, a spokesperson for the Nurburgring circuit said: "In the course of commercial tests at the Nurburgring, the so-called industrial pool, a serious accident occurred on Wednesday, August 9, 2023, in which two people lost their lives.
"A vehicle taking part in the tests had a single-car accident in the Tiergarten section of the track. Although rescue measures were initiated immediately, both occupants died. As part of the so-called industry pool, companies and manufacturers from the automotive and supplier industry test their vehicles and products at the Nürburgring.
"During the test drives at the Nürburgring, the participating companies only have experienced, professional test drivers who have exceptional vehicle control right up to the limits and very good track knowledge of the Nürburgring Nordschleife."
Goodyear followed up with a statement of their own, reading: "We are deeply saddened that two Luxembourg-based Goodyear associates passed away on August 9 following a vehicle incident that occurred at a test track in Germany.
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"We are assisting the local authorities with the investigation. Our immediate concern is for our associates’ family and friends, as well as their co-workers in Luxembourg," A Porsche spokesperson told German newspaper Merkur "[a]t the moment we can only confirm that the vehicle involved in the accident is a model of our brand."
This comes two months before Formula 1 star Esteban Ocon's attempts to break the track record in a boosted Alpine A110 car. The Frenchman is hoping to better the current record of 7'09''300, achieved by Jorg Bergmeister in a Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS.