Video: Wycombe driver escapes 'the big one' (From Bucks Free Press)

Khani walks away from 166mph crash at Spa

2:26pm Tuesday 26th June 2012 in Sport By Alan Feldberg

WYCOMBE racing driver Kourosh Khani is counting his lucky stars this week after walking away from a 166-mph crash in the latest round of the Formula Two Championship last weekend.

Khani was competing in rounds seven and eight at the famous Spa Francorchamps circuit in Belgium, but after positive testing earlier in the week he suffered what all drivers fear on Friday.

Approaching the notorious Eau Rouge corner at 166mph, his wheels lost traction sending him spinning across the track and into the tyre wall on the opposite side of the track.

A a whopping 79G was recorded as he broadsided into the barriers, but despite considerable damage to the car and the wall, he emerged from what drivers call ‘the big one’ unscathed.

Just hours later though he was hurtling towards the same corner in race conditions, after qualifying in 16th place.

He said: “It was heart in the mouth and I was biting hard.”

But he got through it and had improved from 16th to ninth when he was pushed into the gravel on lap three.

Khani made a similarly fast start on Sunday, despite the torrential rain, and had moved up to 11th when the red flag came out due to the conditions.

He said: “ had the pace in the wet to really show well. I was hoping for a chance to make some good ground on the restart but unfortunately never got the opportunity.”

Khani had probably thought the worse was over by the time he got on the grid for qualifying.

Red tape regarding travel documents meant he was stuck in Iran after returning to his home country to promote the sport.

But rather than miss rounds seven and eight of the Championship, he decided to make the 3,000m journey overland.