Sophia Flörsch, the 18-year-old female German driver who shocked crowds at last year’s Macau Grand Prix with her spectacular accident at Lisboa Corner, has announced that she will indeed compete in this year’s Macau Grand Prix, despite initial concerns that she would not be able to, due to lack of sponsorship and limited time to familiarise herself with the new FIA F3 cars. “It was already clear for me that I wanted to be back for this amazing race event, even when I was still in hospital in Macau,” said Sophia in a recent press release from her team. “The event has a cult status in the Motorsports world. Furthermore I am really looking forward seeing the people again who were so responsible and loving. Macau is deep in my heart.”
Approaching the Lisboa Corner at a speed of 276 km/h last year, Sophia’s Dallara-Mercedes flew over the protective barriers and off the track, flying dramatically into an area reserved for photojournalists and track officials. Just 17 years old at the time, the driver suffered a broken spine and underwent an emergency operation that took about seven hours at the Conde de Sao Januario Hospital.
Following the accident, and while recovering from surgery at the hospital, Helena de Senna Fernandes, Director of the Macau Government Tourism Office, officially presented her with the title of Goodwill Ambassador for Tourism of Macau.
At the time of her surgery, doctors were aiming for a recovery period of six months, but remarkably, Sophia returned to the race track just 100 days after her accident in Macau. Completely recovered from the crash, this year Sophia has been racing for Van Amersfoort Racing at the Formula Regional European Championship finishing the season in a very respectable 7th place. She even completed the Berlin Marathon in October.
“Nothing really changed for me after the accident,” she says. “The only negative thing was, because of the injury, no testing was possible during the winter, so I had to start the season without any testing. Apart from that, nothing has really changed. I still love and enjoy what I do as much as before.”
This month, Sophia will be returning to the Macau circuit driving for German HWA Racelab team, and sponsored by MGM China Holdings Ltd, Theodore Racing and IXO Models.
“I believe the whole of Macau is glad to see the speedy recovery and the return of Sophia to the Guia Circuit. MGM is keen to support high-potential young talents to shine and in pursuit of their dreams, and Sophia gives us the best reason to venture into Formula Three for the very first time. We are honored to be the title sponsor for Sophia and welcome her back to Macau for new heights in her racing career,” said Mr. Grant Bowie, Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director of MGM China Holdings Limited.
According to Chong Coc Veng, chairman of the Macau-China General Automobile Association and coordinator of the sports subcommittee of the Grand Prix organization, since the accident, and in line with recommendations from the International Automobile Federation (FIA), “several changes have been made,” to some of the 6.12-kilometer city circuit, considered one of the most dangerous in the world.
These measures were “based on extensive computer simulations,” Chong Coc Veng points out, explaining that these safety changes are due to the FIA’s upgrading of the grade III circuit last year to grade II this year.
This year’s Formula 3 Macau Grand Prix “will adopt cars of different specifications compared to previous years,” adds Chong Coc Veng. “The F3 Macau Grand Prix will introduce the latest F3 cars with a maximum power of 380 horsepower, 140 more horsepower than the previous F3 single-seater.”
As for her return to race in Macau, Sophia notes: “I have tried everything in the past 12 months to be prepared, but I need to remain realistic. New car, not a lot of practice and many variables. Macau challenges and encourages the best drivers. And I am going to try my best.
“That is what I owe every single one who supported me, and that is the reason why I am very grateful for my new sponsors. Without them my dream would not have come true. Thanks to HWA Racelab who saved me the seat until the last minute. In Macau will start a new interesting chapter of my racing career: The FIA Formula 3.”
