An extraordinary 12-car crash at the opening corner of the GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup at Monza sent shockwaves through the entire field, yet the driver at the center of the incident shockingly refused to take responsibility for the mass collision.
The Incident Unfolds
The chaos erupted at Turn 1 when Belgian driver Maxime Martin, piloting his GetSpeed Mercedes, made a brilliant start off the line. He quickly closed the gap to the cars ahead but soon realized he had run out of room on the outside of the track. Forced to dive back toward the center, Martin's move caused the first point of contact, triggering a devastating ripple effect that engulfed 11 more cars.
Drivers not directly involved in the pile-up had no choice but to veer off the track to avoid the utter carnage. The scene was described by commentators as "absolute mayhem", with multiple cars spinning, crashing into barriers, and retiring from the race.
Driver's Denial
Despite the widespread destruction, Martin, 40, argued he was not to blame during his post-race interview. "I don't know what they're complaining about. I didn't touch anyone. I don't have a single scratch on the car, but they're blaming me!" he said. "Yes, I had to drive a little to the right off the track because I had nowhere else to go. But then I safely cut back into the field before the grass, without touching anyone. I'm sorry for everyone, but ultimately I can't say anything about it."
Replays showed Martin did not make direct contact with any car, but his maneuver forced Alessio Rovera to deviate from his line, which in turn pushed Gilles Magnus' Boutsen-VDS Porsche into the guard rail, setting off the chain reaction.
Race Outcome and Reactions
Fortunately, none of the drivers involved suffered serious injuries. The race was won by the No. 66 Tresor Attempto Racing Audi R8 LMS GT3, driven by Rocco Mazzola, Sebastian Øgaard, and Ariel Levi, after a three-hour contest. However, the crash dominated post-race discussions on social media.
Fans were quick to react. "Monza — most farcical 1st corner of any race circuit," wrote Fen Gray Zee. "Someone forgot this isn't sim-racing," added Max Pickled. Bobaloo Blue observed, "Like the old saying goes, you can't WIN the race at turn one, lap one, but you can lose it." Apple Huang described the pile-up as "straight up apocalyptic. Cars tumbling like toys." Elle simply said, "That s**t looking like a bowling ball bro."
The incident has reignited debates about the safety and design of the Monza circuit, with some drivers and fans calling for changes to prevent such massive crashes in the future.
