JULIA ANGELARD INJURED AFTER KARTMAGEDDON IN CREMONA

/in /da
  • Last weekend’s race, which included the second round of the WSK Final Cup series, was a painful experience for the 13-year-old Polish girl.
  • Just before the race weekend, Julia Angelard suffered a whiplash injury after a single, seemingly minor contact with a barrier.
  • As a result, the 13-year-old Minardi Management protégé gradually recovered during individual heats, marked by the accidents of many other players, treating the competition as additional training before the next round of the Champions of the Future Academy series.
  • This coming weekend, Julia Angelard will be at the Warsaw Motor Show, where she will be present with a go-kart in the livery of the Ward Racing team, whose colors the teenage Polish girl represents on a daily basis, competing on the international stage.

Typically, two factors determine whether a race weekend is considered successful: the mental state of the competitor and the technical condition of their equipment. However, other factors also come into play, such as weather conditions, unpredictable rivals, or even unexpected accidents that call physical preparation into question. Unfortunately, the latter occurred with a 13-year-old Minardi Management protégé. Julia Angelard, a 13-year-old driver, suffered a seemingly minor contact with a barrier before the second round of the WSK Final Cup, which proved painful.

Spinal injury and the fight to get back to fitness
What initially seemed like a minor, inconspicuous incident resulted in whiplash, preventing Julia Angelard from effectively fighting not only for the top positions but also for the midfield. Julia Angelard spent the entire week under the care of a professional team of motorsport physiotherapists, who did everything they could to get her back on her feet before and during the race weekend. Unfortunately, due to neck problems, the teenage Ward Racing driver only completed one day of practice before qualifying and heats, resulting in her pace naturally lagging behind that of her more experienced rivals on the track.

The track itself, combined with the competitors’ bravery, made it difficult to get back into a racing rhythm. In the first corner, which follows the longest straight at top speed, numerous competitors spun off the track, not only preventing the rest of the field from competing but also sustaining serious injuries. Bruised ribs, G-forces of several Gs, and crashing through the safety barriers – marshals and the medical team had their hands full this weekend.

While some drivers gave up and didn’t make it to the end of the competition, Julia Angelard, despite her injury, took part in the full race weekend, starting with a specially designed neck brace. While it helped keep her head straight, it also restricted her head’s movement while driving, making competition more difficult. Julia finished the qualifying session in 31st place in her group, only to advance several places in each heat, gaining confidence behind the wheel and gradually regaining her fitness. Fortunately, the 13-year-old Pole qualified before the Pre-Final and felt well enough to showcase some of her potential, advancing from 31st to 21st place, though she had no chance of competing in the final heat.

Julia Angelard: I ended the weekend with a smile
“Although the race weekend started out very painful for me, I’m ending it with a smile on my face. The pain has subsided a bit, but it’s still not gone – and yet, in the pre-final, I was able to compete with the others at least a little, something I’d really missed in the previous days. A huge thank you to the team for their support during this round and their patience with my slow but steady recovery. I hope to be fully recovered before the Champions of the Future Academy round in Al Ain to show what I’m capable of,” emphasizes Julia Angelard.

Before Julia Angelard arrives in the United Arab Emirates, she will be at the Warsaw Motor Show this coming weekend, November 14-16, where she will be presenting her kart in the colors of her Ward Racing team.