Sophia Florsch has first F3 test outing since Macau GP crash
Formula 3 racer Sophia Florsch has made her comeback to the cockpit, less than four months after her horrific high-speed aerial Macau Grand Prix accident
The 18-year-old German has been taking part in a two-day test at Monza with Van Amersfoort Racing as she prepares for the Formula European Masters series, which uses the cars from the discontinued FIA F3 European Championship.
Florsch completed over 90 laps of the Italian Grand Prix circuit on Wednesday in good weather conditions, setting a lap time that would have qualified her in the top six for the opening race of the European F3 round at Monza in 2017.
The test has continued into Thursday, but conditions have turned wet.
Florsch, who sustained a spinal fracture in the Macau shunt, had previously been on the simulator at VAR's workshop.
Team boss Frits van Amersfoort said she has shown absolutely no ill-effects from the injuries during the Monza test.
"She's extremely fit," van Amersfoort told Autosport.
"We're the only F3 cars here so we can't really compare times.
"But put it this way: I think she looks stronger than she did in the whole of last year; we're quite satisfied with what she's doing.
"It's starting to feel a little bit like Mick Schumacher [who the team ran in German Formula 4 in 2015] - we had over 20 photographers hanging over our pit box yesterday!
"Sophia's comeback is some kind of news, but also it's time to deliver now and forget about the accident."
Florsch has been joined in the VAR line-up at the test by ex-BRDC British Formula 3 and Formula Renault Eurocup racer Callan O'Keeffe.
The 22-year-old South African, a former Red Bull and Lotus F1 Junior, has not raced since 2017 but is hoping for a comeback in Formula European Masters.
"I'm quite impressed by him," said van Amersfoort.
"He's still a little bit rusty after a long time out, but he's extremely motivated and he has worked quite well in the gym.
"He's doing a good job and we hope to have him in the car this season."
The team is also in discussions with Petru Florescu, who contested several rounds of the 2018 Euro F3 series with Fortec Motorsport.
Photos courtesy of Alberto Vimercati/ASPhotography and Marco Borgonovo
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