Colombian racer Santiago Villa was badly burned when a fire erupted during a pit stop during the ASRA Team Challenge Friday at Daytona International Speedway. Villa was competing in the Solo class of the 43-lap endurance race when he pitted on approximately lap 17 for fuel. During the pit stop, according to crew member Shane Prieto, the dry break connector on his refueling can stuck open, overfilling his fuel tank and spilling fuel over Villa and his motorcycle. The fuel ignited, and flames shot an estimated 15-20 feet in the air. Villa, who was on his motorcycle when the fuel was spilled, was engulfed in flames and ran away from the motorcycle and his wife, who was holding the team’s fire bottle. Villa ran behind the pit wall, dropped to the ground and tried to put out the flames by rolling. The flames were not going out, but seconds later CCS/ASRA officials Eric Kelcher and Scott Hubbard arrived on the scene with fire bottles and extinguished the flames on Villa. Paramedics were dispatched to the incident and removed Villa’s leathers. Villa was seen to have suffered serious burns to the inner portions and backs of his thighs and on his neck. He was airlifted to a burn center in Orlando, Florida. We will update Villa’s condition as more details become available.
Santiago Villa Burned In Pit Fire During ASRA Team Challenge At Daytona
Santiago Villa Burned In Pit Fire During ASRA Team Challenge At Daytona
© 2007, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc. By David Swarts.