“This one nearly cost my life”: Kluge appeals to officials after Oulton near-fatal crash
Ex-formula Ford driver Andrew Kluge has called for a review into his Oulton Park accident which left him with serious injuries, after he hit a car which had been left by the side of the track.
The British Racing and Sports Car Club Northern Championship Pre-’90 competitor suffered a torn aorta artery, broken hip, lacerated spleen and damage to his kidneys, lungs and liver in June.
His Van Diemen was knocked into a spin and made side impact with the rear of Andrew Thomas’s Mygale, which had been left at the side of the track along Deer Leap.
“I would like to appeal to the powers that be to seriously review the decision-making procedure around leaving abandoned cars on the circuit,” said Kluge, who has since retired from racing.
“This car was parked on the grass but only inches from the edge of the track at a very narrow part of the circuit. There was one yellow flag, but too close to the actual car to be of much warning. In my view, this car should have been removed for the safety of everyone involved.
“I am sure that race day decisions are very difficult with lots of pressures and not much time to make them, but this one nearly cost my life.”
Thomas’s car had been involved in an earlier accident and the decision was taken by clerk of the course, Steve Milward, to leave the car at the side of the track until the end of the race.
A spokesman for the BRSCC said: “The safety car was deployed and completed several laps allowing for the cars to be recovered to safe positions by marshals.
“With four minutes remaining it was decided that this sector of the circuit would be covered under yellow flags to the completion of the race.
“Unfortunately as the race restarted a further incident occurred in this sector between another competing car and car 40 driven by Andrew Kluge which resulted in Andrew’s car leaving the circuit and making contact with one of the cars from the original incident.
“The race was instantly red flagged and Andrew was immediately attended to by medical staff before being taken to the circuit medical centre, where he was then transferred to hospital.
“Everyone at BRSCC would like to wish Andrew a speedy recovery.”