Tragedy has struck the motor racing competition again, this time in a FIM World Endurance Championship race at the Brno circuit. On the Czech track, where MotoGP raced just three weeks ago, Austrian rider Philipp Steinmayr (32) and Romanian Adrian Rus (43) lost their lives in a brutal accident caused by misfortune.
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According to images shared by some media on social networks, the chilling accident occurred at the start of an endurance race of the Alpe Adria championship. The Austrian rider got stuck on the grid, in the center of the front row (starting second), due to a mechanical problem. Steinmayr raised his hand, warning of the issue, to try to make himself visible to all the riders accelerating behind him. Most saw him and avoided him.
But not all. From the back of the grid, the penultimate to pass, came Romanian Adrian Rus at full speed, who did not see Steinmayr stopped, so he could not avoid him and prevent the full impact. In the violent collision, the Austrian’s bike caught fire.
Both riders died as a result of the severe injuries from the very strong impact; the Romanian was taken to the Brno hospital but arrived in critical condition and died shortly after.
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The FIM Endurance World Championship (FIM EWC) account confirmed the death of the two riders and expressed condolences to the families and teams of the two athletes.
The event organizers at the Brno circuit suspended the entire sports program, which included the Supersport 300 European Cup, Supersport 600 European Cup, Superstock 1000 European Cup, and the Women’s European Championship races.
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