As mentioned in an earlier report this week, stock car racer Sondermann lost control of his car on a damp track in the Curva do Cafe corner of the Interlagos circuit on Sunday, and hit the wall, after which his car was t-boned by another driver racing at full speed. He sustained severe head injuries in the accident and later died.
“I wish to express my great sadness at the death of Gustavo Sondermann, killed as a result of a terrible accident which happened last Sunday at Interlagos, during a pick-up race, run as part of the Brazilian Stock Car championship,” said Massa in a statement on Tuesday.
“I knew him well and our fathers are friends: I feel great pain at his loss and definitely, all my thoughts are with him and his family at this difficult time. It would be nice if I could get a good result next Sunday in Malaysia which I could dedicate to him,” he added.
Sondermann is not the only driver to lose his life during an official competition on the Interlagos track, as 4 years ago his then-teammate Rafeal Sperafico died as a result of an almost identical accident in the same corner. Also, this February, a motorcycle rider lost his life in the same place.
Massa was not the only high-ranked Brazilian driver to pay condolences via the Internet, as Rubens Barrichello, Nelson Piquet Jr, Bruno Senna and former F1 driver Luciano Burti did the same via their Twitter accounts.
Google News