Following the tragic accident at the European Hillrace in Eschdorf on Sunday, in which a 48-year-old woman lost her life, many questions remain unanswered.
At this stage, neither the race organiser nor the manager of ACLsport have issued any official statement.
At around 10am on Sunday morning, during the first run, a car left the track and struck two marshals who were standing behind the safety barrier at their post.
The victim, Manuela Dondelinger, a Luxembourg national living in Germany, died in hospital a few hours later. Her husband, who was standing next to her as a fellow marshal, sustained minor injuries.
The driver, a Belgian competing for the 911 Impact Racing Team, was also taken to hospital with a spinal injury.
The accident occurred roughly halfway along the course, which is just under two kilometres long. At that point, the track features a long sweeping bend following a straight where vehicles can reach speeds of over 200 km/h.
The hill race is subject to a comprehensive safety concept approved by ACLsport. At high-risk sections of the circuit, the track is protected by double safety barriers: a standard guardrail reinforced with an additional structure underneath.
What caused the vehicle to leave the track at high speed, strike the barrier head-on, and break through it remains a matter of speculation at this stage.
All marshals are trained for their role, many of them with years of experience. The victim was also a long-standing member of the Marshals Club Nürburgring, which provided track marshals for the Eschdorf race.
This was the 34th edition of the Eschdorf Hillrace. Until now, no accident with such tragic consequences had occurred.
No spectators or press were permitted in the section of the track where the accident took place.
The Motorsport Rescue Team Luxembourg was present on site with its vehicle. These are specialised response teams that also include members of the Grand Ducal Fire and Rescue Corps (CGDIS).
In addition, the CGDIS had deployed a team of four personnel, along with two ambulances from Lux-Ambulance and at least one doctor engaged by the organiser.
According to CGDIS spokesperson Cédric Gantzer, emergency teams reached the scene in less than a minute following the accident.
Based on initial information, the CGDIS also dispatched two emergency doctors by helicopter, three additional ambulances, and eight members of the psychological support unit to assist those affected.
On Facebook, Motorsport Team Luxembourg paid tribute to a member of their motorsport family, while also expressing support for the injured driver.
The driver himself also expressed his condolences to the victim's family online, stating his hope that the cause of the accident would be fully clarified.
The Marshals Club Nürburgring wrote that such tragic events serve as a reminder of the dangers of the sport and that the work carried out by marshals should never be taken for granted.
