Norweigian Formula One driver Rolf Sunde of the Danita Racing Team, who fits the roll of "multi-tasker", working as mechanic, engine guru and contender behind the wheel, remains in hospital after suffering a serious crash during the Qata Grand Prix last weekend.
Norweigian Formula One driver Rolf Sunde of the Danita Racing Team, who fits the roll of “multi-tasker”, working as mechanic, engine guru and contender behind the wheel, remains in hospital after suffering a serious crash during the Qata Grand Prix last weekend.
According to close friends, Rolf is expected to fly home to Norway using a bed transporter in the next few days but it’s understood he will be unable to sit upright for at least three months. He is suffering a broken back bone after barrel rolling halfway through the 50 lap event.
Rolf, who is tied for 18th in the championship, has been relief driver in the Danita Team for the past two seasons during which time he scored a ninth place at the Singapore GP. He has the talent that won the Formula 4 world title in 1993 and the French Rouen 24 Hour race 2002. He has also shown his skills by qualifying with top-six shoot out appearances at the Grand Prix’s of Malaysia and Sharjah last season.
In last weekend’s Grand Prix of Qatar, which was eventually won by eight-time world champion Guido Cappellini from Italy, 43 year-old Norweigian, qualified a lowly 22nd in practice after his left sponson began delaminating cutting his practice time to a mere five laps.
After working through the night he was able to enter the race next day where he was soon running in eighth place. Despite stopping in the pits to sort out a problem on the 20th lap, he rejoined the fleet before suddenly falling into a “hole” on the 25th causing a serious high speed barrel roll.
The British Osprey Rescue team was immediately on the scene where they spent over two minutes bringing round the unconscious Rolf. He was carefully removed and taken to a hospital with a back injury where he is slowly recovering.
