Barbosa Sidelined with Fractured Wrist in Hoverboard Accident

Joao Barbosa is recovering from a fractured wrist following a hoverboard accident, leaving the two-time IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Prototype champion sidelined until next month’s Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring.

The bizarre incident occurred in the Florida-based Portuguese driver’s family home, when Barbosa had to take evasive action after his Yorkie dog  jumped out in front of him while on the hoverboard.

Barbosa sustained a minor fracture to his left wrist as a result. The family’s dog, “Speed,” was uninjured in the incident.

“It’s unfortunate that I’m not going to be able to test our No. 5 Mustang Sampling Chevrolet Corvette Daytona Prototype at Sebring International Raceway next week,” Barbosa said.

“Fortunately for me I’ve got the best race team with Action Express Racing and excellent co-drivers with Christian (Fittipaldi) and Filipe (Albuquerque).

“I’ll be there to share in each debrief session and review the data with the team; it’ll be a terrific opportunity to mentally prepare for the challenge of 12 hours.

“My wife is tremendously talented and artistically gifted, she’s already helped to brand my cast with the Mustang Sampling logo, and after my demonstration our kids now fully understand that the hoverboards are best used outside, and not around Speed.”

Barbosa is fully expected to be cleared to return to the wheel of the No. 5 Action Express Corvette DP for the Sebring race.

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