Hammond photos: burst tyre caused crash

[Matra et Alpine]

from msn.com http://cars.uk.msn.com/News/car_news...mentid=2492377

By Tom Evans
January 18 2007
A burst tyre caused the crash that almost killed Richard Hammond when he was driving a jet-powered car in September, new photographs have shown.


CLICK PHOTOS TO ENLARGE - The right front tyre starts to shred moments before the crash

The photos (see right) show the front right tyre starting to disintegrate as Hammond powers along at around 280mph, before crashing down entirely on its right corner, skewing violently to the right and skidding sideways. Then, crucially, it hits something to cause it to flip end-to-end, cartwheeling into the field next to the runway, at Elvington near York. The photos have been released prior to broadcast of the first video footage of the crash which will be shown in the first edition of the new series of Top Gear at the end of this month. Hammond was left with a serious brain injury after the accident, but has made a strong recovery and will co-present the programme.


The crash trail (Image © Empics)

Speaking in the latest edition of ‘Top Gear’ magazine, Hammond claims to remember little about the actual accident, which happened after he had made several runs in the car. “I know what I must have done, because it will have been the same as every other run in the car. I will have taken a few deep breaths on the start line as the engine roared and my thumb hovered over the afterburner switch. Then I will have hit it and 10,000 bhp will have hurled me towards the horizon and up to 280mph. And the rest is, I’m afraid, history.” Hammond was airlifted to hospital shortly after. Top Gear co-host Jeremy Clarkson said "I've joked about this accident for months saying Hammond's a cr** driver and can't even go in a straight line. But I've seen the footage now and it's a sickening crunch. You are just left with 'how the hell did anyone possibly get out alive?'." Top Gear executive producer Andy Wilman said “Richard’s comfortable with the footage going out. He is convinced his crash helmet saved his life So if just one kid who owns a motorbike watches this and thinks ‘I get you. I have to play it safe’ he’ll think it’s a good thing.’"

The footage of the crash will be shown on Top Gear on Sunday January 28 on BBC2.

[IWantAnAudiRS6]

Interesting- it certainly explains a lot.

Apparently, the same thing happened to one of my friends recently- her rear tyre blew out and made her lose control, so she plowed into a tree at 50 mph

- 1 guy with 3 broken ribs
- 1 guy with a burst spleen
- 1 girl with a crushed hand and a hole in her lip
- 1 girl (driver) with a cut that is about 5cm wide and 18cm long stretching the length of her chest, a hole in her knee and bruising almost everywhere
- 1 thoroughly written-off car

[henk4]

I know it may sound pedantic here, but a flat tyre in a hydropneumatically sprung Citroen will go by virtually unnoticed (and I speak from experience)

[McReis]

I know it may sound pedantic here, but a flat tyre in a hydropneumatically sprung Citroen will go by virtually unnoticed (and I speak from experience)

Citröenfanboy. A new concept of fanboy for those who love that term.

[Mr.Tiv]

Citröenfanboy. A new concept of fanboy for those who love that term.

Don't give Slicks any ideas.

[jediali]

I know it may sound pedantic here, but a flat tyre in a hydropneumatically sprung Citroen will go by virtually unnoticed (and I speak from experience)

i also dont want to be pedantic but they tested the C6 buy shooting out the tyres during a getatway stunt, alos when TG starts again this 28th the footage of this crash will be shown apparently (bbc news says so..)

[Suka]

also when TG starts again this 28th the footage of this crash will be shown apparently (bbc news says so..)

Did you read the first post of this thread??

[jediali]

Did you read the first post of this thread??

bloop bloop gibber gibber - Im dafter than a toilet brush

[Matra et Alpine]

bloop bloop gibber gibber - Im dafter than a toilet brush

Have you already seen TG ?

That sounds liek the hamsters first words after the accident

[Suka]

bloop bloop gibber gibber - Im dafter than a toilet brush

Pardon?

[jediali]

Pardon?

thats me apologising for repeating what was already said in opening post - by saying im stupid.

[Ferrer]

I know it may sound pedantic here, but a flat tyre in a hydropneumatically sprung Citroen will go by virtually unnoticed (and I speak from experience)

I guess De Gaulle was thankful for that feature...

[Suka]

thats me apologising for repeating what was already said in opening post - by saying im stupid.

Ah! An interesting method...