Palmer, De La Torre Airlifted to Hospital After Major Accident at LRP

Photo: John Dagys

Andrew Palmer and Jorge De La Torre have been airlifted to Hartford Hospital following a massive accident in warmup for this afternoon’s Pirelli World Challenge round at Lime Rock Park.

Palmer’s No. 87 Bentley Team Absolute Bentley Continental GT3 made heavy contact with a a stationary No. 4 Aston Martin V12 Vantage GT3 of De la Torre in the Turn 1 runoff.

Eyewitness reports indicate that Palmer’s car catapulted over the Aston Martin upon impact and flew into the air before coming to rest in a wooded area, past several tire barriers.

The cause of the accident is unknown, although de la Torre’s car had stopped in the runoff area prior to Palmer’s arrival, at nearly full speed.

It took more than 20 minutes to extricate Palmer from the car.

Both drivers were initially transported by ambulance to Sharon Hospital, and per a track representative, have since been airlifted to Hartford Hospital, a Level 1 trauma center.

Their conditions have not been disclosed.

Track action has been halted as Connecticut police continue an investigation report.

State law mandates local police must file accident reports for any motor racing accident resulting in a driver being transported to a hospital.

No word has been given on a revised schedule, of if track action will resume today.

John Dagys

John Dagys is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Sportscar365. Dagys spent eight years as a motorsports correspondent for FOXSports.com and SPEED Channel and has contributed to numerous other motorsports publications worldwide. Contact John