Crash survivor vows to return

A 17-year-old female driver who fractured her spine in a horrific crash at the Formula Three Macao Grand Prix last Sunday is vowing to return to the track after undergoing surgery lasting nearly half a day.

Germany’s Sophia Floersch pitchforked off the track and hurtled into marshals and photographers before being transported to hospital in stable condition.

“I survived the operation, which took 11 hours. Hope from now on it only gets better,” she wrote in a Facebook post on her official account late Tuesday.

“I’m going to come back!” she added.

Floersch said she had to remain in Macao “a few more days” until it is possible to transport her elsewhere.

She thanked the medical staff who treated her as well as the people who helped at the scene of the crash for their “encouraging, calming words in these tough minutes in my car”.

Dramatic footage captured gasps from the crowd as the Van Amersfoort Racing driver’s car flew through the air and into safety netting at the Guia Circuit’s Lisboa bend, a sharp right-hander.

Running 16th, she lost control in a contact down the straight, launched off a curb and bounced off Tsuboi Tom’s Racing car.

“My thoughts are also with everyone who was involved in the accident. I hope everybody is healthy,” Floersch said in her post.

The International Motoring Federation (FIA) is investigating the crash.

At least three people have died on the Macao Grand Prix circuit.

Britain’s Daniel Hegarty died last year after hitting a barrier at Fisherman’s Bend during the Macao Grand Prix’s feature motorcycle race.

In 2012, Portuguese motorcyclist Luis Carreira and Hong Kong driver Phillip Yau were killed within two days of each other during the Macao Grand Prix.