This is the moment a supercar driver miraculously survives a terrifying high-speed smash – with little more than a few scrapes.
Richard Holt hit a staggering 235mph in a tuned Lamborghini Gallardo at the Texas Mile race weekend when he applied the brakes and deployed the car’s parachute.
However, crosswinds unsettled the Italian supercar which resulted in it clipping a small wall off the edge of the runway at more than 100mph.
This launched the car into a series of violent tumbles and barrel rolls as it catapulted through the air to the horror of onlookers.
Safety teams accelerated out to the scene to find the Lamborghini wrecked and Richard trapped inside.
Amazingly Richard, whose foot was trapped, walked away from the crash battered and bruised but otherwise unhurt. He was flown to the nearest hospital for observation after being cut from the wreck by emergency teams.
Photographer Keith Kaminski captured the dramatic crash on video which shows the Gallardo’s roll cage, sports seats and airbag saved Richard from almost certain death.
The racer was driving a Lamborghini Gallardo which had been built by Underground Racing and John Reed Racing.
With 1,900 horsepower, the twin-turbocharged Lamborghini is nearly four-times as powerful as a standard Gallardo.
Speaking after the crash, John Reed said: “Richard is resting and doing well.
“He’s really sore, but all checked out at hospital and in good spirits.
“Considering the magnitude of the accident, it is nothing short of a miracle.”
The smash took place over the weekend at the Texas Mile event where petrolheads turn up and see what speed they can reach on a one-mile straight.
One shocked onlooker said: ”We saw a huge clump of dirt fly into the air and then we saw the car fly through the air – it was easy to tell it was airborne even from a mile away.
”There was just silence after that, except for the crew members running to get in their vehicles so they could get to their driver.”
The twin-turbocharged Lamborghini – with 1,900 horsepower – has twice the power of a Bugatti Veyron and is nearly four-times as powerful as a standard Gallardo.
At full stretch, the Italian supercar is capable of reaching top speeds in excess of 260mph.
The smash took place on Saturday at the twice-annual Texas Mile event where petrolheads turn up and see what speed they can reach on a one-mile straight.
Motorcyclist Bill Warner was the winner – hitting an astonishing 278mph on a tuned Suzuki Hayabusa superbike.
The Lamborghini Gallardo is the latest supercar to be involved in a prang with a Bugatti Veyron suffering £350,000 damage two weeks ago when after a high-speed collision with a lorry on the autobahn.
Another Veyron was captured on camera reversing into a stationary Toyota during an embarrassing test-drive in the USA while the Ferrari 458 Italia was involved in five incidents in 11 days during August.
October 28: Article updated with new pictures
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That’s why they cost so much
“Lamborghini driver walks away after 235mph drag race smash”
Trying to sensationalize this story a little (lot)… he crashed at around 100mph, by my advanced calculations the story is off by a staggering 135MPH! A full 135% faster than what actually happened. Like I said, trying to sensationalize much?
stfu
Doink
Hey Mr. ‘advanced calculations’ for your information:
100 x 135% = 135
100 x 235% = 235
Now get back to your fourth grade class before you’re missed.
Actually… no. He said 135% *faster*.
“‘Tis better to remain mute and be thought a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt”
i guess it is advanced math for some people
boohoo, dumbass
1900 horsepower? That’s gotta be a typo. Hell, the Veyron only has 1000.
Nope, it’s spot on – the tuner fits huge turbos at low(ish) cost – resulting in a ridiculously powerful, but rather basic car.
nd d ss has 1200
Just to clarify, the Texas Mile isn’t a “drag race” per se – there is only one car on track at a time and the total time is not recorded, only the terminal(!) velocity through a speed trap at the end of the mile.
Such cars should NEVER use a parachute to slow down when they have perfectly good and safe brakes. Stupid yank rules.
And a very bad driver too.