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Watch An Opel Astra OPC Crash During A Race On The Nürburgring: Video

As the 2013 24 Hour of Le Mans was getting started this past Saturday June 22nd, participants of the VLN Long-Distance Nürburgring Championship series were contending for the Adenauer Simfy Trophy. Of particular interest is the #347 Opel Astra OPC: piloted by three Finns, the car was running in the event’s fifth lap when it suffered a sizable crash.

It seems that before entering the corner immediately preceding the accident, the Astra’s tail began sliding as the car was braking — sending the GM Delta 2-based vehicle uncontrollably into the safety barrier. Luckily, the barrier and the Astra performed their respective duties very well — protecting the driver and the car; the Astra even looks surpassingly healthy after the impact, and the driver wasn’t harmed by the incident:

Separately, the 4th run of the 2013 VLN endurance championship was canceled after the death of driver Wolf Silvester at the Nürburgring that day. Mr. Silvester’s death was caused by a sudden heart attack in his car. The 24 Hours of Le Mans also lost a motorist this weekend when Danish driver Allen Simonsen’s Aston Martin collided with a wall at the Tertre Rouge corner of the track at high speeds. We extend our condolences to the family and friends of Mr. Silvester and Mr. Simonsen.

The GM Authority staff is comprised of columnists, interns, and other reporters who provide coverage of the latest General Motors news.

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Comments

  1. Good side impact protection, eh?

    Reply
  2. That’s what I thought! And it doesn’t even look that deformed post-impact.

    Reply

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