DTM race winner Engstler was restricted to wheelchair after Macau crash

Lamborghini driver Luca Engstler was unable to walk and required a wheelchair in the aftermath of his 140mph crash at Macau in November.

Engstler ran wide at the exit of the Mandarin Bend in qualifying for the FIA GT World Cup at the Guia Circuit, with his Lamborghini Huracan GT3 spinning around and slamming hard into the wall at the other side of the track.

The 24-year-old fell unconscious because of the impact and had to be taken to a hospital for check-ups. Tests revealed a number of injuries and, eight weeks on from the crash, he is yet to make a full recovery.

“It was a real bump,” he told Autosport’s sister title Motorsport-Total.com. “The big problem was that my right ankle was quite badly damaged. I tore the lateral ligaments and had a lot of bleeding in my tibia and fibula, which was a bit worrying.

“I was in a wheelchair for the first two or three days because I really couldn’t do anything and it felt like all my bones hurt. There were bruises everywhere and everything was somehow difficult.”

A number of factors contributed to his crash, including a lack of dry running in practice and a Balance of Performance that did not particularly favour the Lamborghini. However, Engstler insisted that the crash, which ruled him out of the remainder of the weekend, was of his own making.

The German driver also provided scathing details of what happened moments after he hit the wall.

“I really wanted to get out of the car because I knew what a fast corner it was,” he said.

“I had my seat belt unbuckled and then I realised: not such a good idea after all! So I wanted to get out of the car as quickly as possible.

“And when I climbed over the guardrail I noticed that there was something wrong with my foot. I lost consciousness and woke up in the hospital.”

Despite his ordeal in Macau, the accident hasn’t taken anything away from his love for racing.

“I was unconscious, woke up in hospital and didn’t know where I was or what was going on,” he explained. “When you realise that and process it a bit, you ask yourself, ‘what are you doing here?’

“[But] you wake up the next morning like after a bad weekend and say, ‘let’s go!’ When you’re so mad [about racing] in your head, nothing can stop you.”

After leaving the wheelchair, Engstler continued to have trouble walking for “quite a long time” after the accident.

But the winner of two DTM races last year with Grasser Racing Team has made significant strides in his recovery and managed to visit Sweden for a holiday during the winter break.

He has also started jogging, but it probably won’t be until February before he can jump in a car again.

Luca Engstler, Grasser Racing Team

Photo by: Alexander Trienitz

“I was told that I should not or could not start exercising again until the beginning of February, but of course, I couldn’t let that happen,” he said. 

“I’ve been jogging for the first time, so everything is back to normal. I’d say I’m back to 95% now and have no lasting damage.

“I really want to go karting next week so I can start with the basics again. Then I want to get in the car in February or March before the big tests start.”

While his maiden appearance in Macau was curtailed by a crash, he is keen to return to the famous street circuit again this year.

“No matter who I talk to, I tell everyone I want to do Macau [again],” he said. “The moment we committed to the race [last year], my response was: either hospital or the trophy!

“Last year it was unfortunately hospital, this year hopefully the trophy!”