Teenage kart racer seriously injured in ‘freak’ Angmering crash

The freak crash happened at the Oval Race Club, in Angmering

Talented young racer Josh Simon, of Fontwell, needed hospital treatment after he lost control of his go-kart, which overturned during a practice session at the race course, in Water Lane.

The Slindon College student was left with eight broken ribs, a broken collarbone, fractured shoulder and a punctured lung after the terrifying crash on Sunday, May 5, which saw him pinned to the ground by his go-kart.

The 15-year-old was rushed to the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton for treatment and is said to be recovering well. In spite of his injuries, Josh has told members at the club that he is still keen to get back in the driver’s seat and race there again.

Owner of the race course Jim Hazelgrove, said in more than 50 years of racing he had never seen anything quite so unlucky and was quick to stress that this was a “freak accident” that “no one could have predicted”.

Jim, 69, who has competed at various levels since he was 16, said: “It’s so, so unlucky and a total freak accident.

“It’s really unlucky for him to have been injured so badly.

“We are open 365 days a year and have accidents all the time. But they are normally really minor.

“He was only travelling at about 15 miles per hour on one of our slowest bends when he lost control and flipped.

“I’ve seen people travelling a lot faster than that crash on sites up and down the country and they just get up and walk away. No one could have predicted this.”

He added: “I understand he was overtaking and may have clipped his wheel on the car he was passing.

“Because our go-karts’ wheels are exposed it means they are more likely to be affected by a collision.

“No other kart was affected by the crash.”

Jim added that he was in regular contact with Josh and his family, adding that the injured teenager’s spirts were remarkably high.

“He told us that he is really keen to get back on the track and race again but obviously it’s going to take time for him to recover.

“But I know everyone at the club is wishing him a really speedy recovery.”