Engstler suffers broken collarbone

Date published : 22 Nov 2009 - 09:38:06

World Touring Car racer Franz Engstler broke his left collarbone in huge accident at the end of today's second World Touring Car race at Macau.The 48-year-old German was chasing Felix Porteiro's BMW for the independent class lead when Porteiro slid wide at the final corner on lap eight. Porteiro's car bounced off the tyre wall and back into the middle of the circuit.Engstler rounded the corner to find the stricken 3 Series in his path and his car lurched sideways as he attempted to avoid it. He struck Porteiro's car side on and was left on the racing line at the exit of the bend. The BMWs of Nobuteru Taniguchi and Takayuki Aoki narrowly avoided him, but Andre Couto's SEAT did not. The Macau local ploughed into the left-hand, driver's side door of the BMW and went on into the barrier.Engstler sustained a broken left collarbone, a concussion and heavy bruising to his upper body in the impact. He was taken to hospital but has been released and is arranging to fly back to Europe as soon as possible.Both Porteiro and Couto escaped significant injury.