International motorsports chief Jean Todt has promised an investigation into the horrific aerial crash at the Macau Formula 3 Grand Prix which left 17-year-old German driver Sophia Floersch with a spinal fracture.
Floersch was catapulted off the track into a photographers' bunker after hitting the back of one car and shunted over another while travelling at more than 275 kilometres per hour on the tight street circuit.
The teenager was conscious when taken to hospital and later tweeted that she was "fine" and would undergo surgery on Monday.
"After the serious incident today in Macau the FIA is mobilized to help those involved and analyze what happened," International Motorsport Federation (FIA) president Todt tweeted.
"We will monitor the situation and make the necessary conclusions."
Japanese driver Sho Tsuboi, who Floersch hit after the initial impact, was also taken to hospital complaining of back pain but the Macau Grand Prix organising committee said he had been discharged after treatment.
The event's chief medical officer, Dr Chan Wai Sin, said two photographers and one track marshal were also injured in the crash and taken to hospital for treatment.
Floersch is competing in her first season in the junior F3 series. She was in 15th place when the accident happened on lap four.
Germany's Mick Schumacher, the son of Formula One great Michael Schumacher, who took part in the race, tweeted: "Our thought are with (at)SophiaFloersch and the others injured, we hope for the best. (hashtag)StayStrongSophia."
According to Chinese driver Guan Yu Zhou, who was driving behind Floersch, there were yellow warning lamps on the straight just before the accident, which he said seemed to be "an organisational mistake".
"Sophia was very close to Jehan Daruvala and as he braked early she had no time to react," he said.
Crashes are frequent at the Macau Grand Prix which this year, in its 65th edition, hosted six car and motorcycle races on the 6.2-km Guia Circuit around the streets of the island.
Last year, British motorcyclist Daniel Hegarty died after hitting the safety barrier during a race, the eighth rider to have lost his life on the circuit since 1973.
Three motorcyclists were taken to hospital after crashes at the circuit this week with Britain Andrew Dudgeon requiring a metal rod to be inserted in his spine after a crash in practice.
Dudgeon comes from Britain's Isle of Man where 270 motorcyclists have been killed in competition on the island's TT circuits over the last 120 years.
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