Inadequate crash barriers and poor positioning of a chicane on the track could have been major contributing factors in Sunday’s crash, according to a former professional Formula 3 driver.
“From what I have seen of the footage, the placement of the chicane was a fundamental error as the exit seems to push a car at speed towards the grass,” Maltese-Australian driver Damien Digby told Times of Malta.
“Proper planning would have never put people in the direct line opposite to where an out-of-control car would inadvertently travel. It’s why you never see unprotected spectators on the exits of corners,” he said.
Footage of the crash shows the Porsche 918 supercar navigating a two-point chicane constructed out of crash barriers before appearing to clip the grass at the edge of the runway and spinning out of control into a crowd of onlookers.
Mr Digby, who won three Australian championships in an 11-year career, said the lack of effective crash barriers could have exacerbated the scale of the incident.
“Unsafe barriers, such as those I saw in the pictures around the carnage, act merely as projectiles that just strike more people in these types of accidents.”
Only a row of plastic crash barriers – not filled with water as is often the case – and metal crowd control barriers separated the large crowd from the track.
“Old fashioned hay bales, a safety barrier from the 1950s era, would have been much more effective but unfortunately were not present,” Mr Digby said.
He also expressed more general concerns over safety measures at local motorsport events when he used to live in Malta, which he said had led him to stop attending out of fear at the risks being taken.
“At any other sanctioned event I believe only six to eight cars would have passed proper scrutineering,” Mr Digby said. “Surfaces that are not at all fit for purpose and well-meaning officials who really have very little knowledge on what it takes to run an event in safety add to the issues.”
Meanwhile, Reuben Hili from the Island Car Club, which organises regular hill-climb events, explained that the club always made use of concrete crash barriers specifically designed for motorsport.
Moreover, the crowd was held as far back from the track as was practical.
While not commenting directly on Sunday’s incident, Mr Hili said all hill-climb events were covered by specific motorsport insurance.
As part of the insurance requirements, the club provides a detailed safety plan including details of the crowd, marshals and any chicanes.
The insurance provider typically also makes recommendations which the club is required to abide by.
Mr Hili said the insurance documentation was then handed over to the police for a permit to be issued.