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Following Richard Hammond’s horror crash, Katherine Legge had a big hit of her own in the Champ Car World Series.

The British racer’s car was destroyed when a broken wing threw it off the track yesterday.

Legge’s phenomenal escape is another testimony to the magnificent work of race track safety teams and car designers. Keith Collantine pays tribute to the unsung heroes of motor racing.

If you’re driving a racing car at 165mph and the rear wing falls off, it doesn’t matter if you’re Michael Schumacher – you have no power to prevent a crash.

That’s exactly what happened to Katherine Legge on lap 47 of the Champ Car World Series race at Road America yeterday.

The main part of her rear wing chose the worst possible moment to detach itself from her PKV racing car. It fluttered into the air as she headed for the 165 mph, sixth-gear bend known simple as The Kink.

By a strange coincidence, exactly the same thing did happen to Schumacher, at the Hungarian Grand Prix 13 years ago.

But unlike the Formula One champion, who had a vast expanse of gravel to skid to a stop in, Legge faced a concrete barrier and a tall debris fence on the outside of The Kink.

The pale pink car, in a one-off livery to promote Ford’s breast cancer program, had spun through 180 degrees when it reached the barrier. It struck with almost undiminished speed, shattering into hundreds of pieces, churning mud into the air, and bouncing along the ground.

Afterwards Legge was remarkably unruffled: "I must have stayed conscious through most of it, because as I was going along the fence I remember thinking 'this isn't good'.”

A crash like that puts every safety procedure in the book to the test.

Although a dramatic impact like this can look frightening, the massive destruction actually serves a purpose. It is possible to build a rock-solid car that can withstand this kind of impact with barely a scratch – but the forces transmitted to the driver would likely be unsurvivable.

The impact of Legge’s car tore the engine and gearbox apart and plucked the wheels and suspension from the chassis. All this serves to dissipate the energy more gradually and reduce the risk of an explosion.

Legge said she remembered seeing her engine fly past: “That was a real relief, because when you're trapped upside down, the last thing you want is fire. That would be scary”

At the core of the car is a ‘survival cell’ which, by the end of Legge’s ordeal, was all that was left of her car.

Tall fences help contain the debris and protect spectators. New barriers are being introduced that yield slightly in the event of a very hard hit, further easing the impact for the driver.

When an accident has happened it is imperative that rescue services reach the scene as quickly as possible.

The Champ Car World Series’ response team are renowned as one of the best. In 2001 Italian racer Alex Zanardi lost both his legs when he crashed at the Laustitzring. Without the immediate arrival of the safety team the consequences could have been even worse.

Within half an hour Legge was back at the medical centre where her only apparent injury was mild bruising. When asked if she wanted anything Legge replied, in stoically British fashion: “Just a cup of tea.”

Legge’s lucky escape underlines how much progress has been made in motor sport safety.

There have been, and there will always be, serious accidents with serious consequences in motor racing. But the endeavours to improve safety never stop.

Legge’s crash may give everyone cause to think, “job well done” – but each accident also provides an opportunity to analyse what went wrong and what can be done to stop it happening again.

Racing round-up

AJ AllmendingerChamp Car World Series

Legge’s crash came as AJ Allmendinger had taken the lead ahead of Brune Junqueira and Sebastian Bourdais. Although the race was restarted Allmendinger kept his advantage over the remaining laps.

He is still mathematically capable of winning the championship, but he will need Bourdais to suffer some very bad luck.

Formula Three

Mike Conway wrapped up the British F1 title with another two wins at Silverstone. Read our exclusive interview with Mike Conway.

World Touring  Car Championship

Gabriele Tarquini moved within one point of championship leader Andy Priaulx by winning the rain-delayed second race at Istanbul – but only after his Seat team ordered Peter Terting to sacrifice the win to his Italian team mate.

British Touring Car Championship

Jason Plato could still snatch the championship from Matt Neal after winning two of the three races at Brands Hatch yesterday. Neal crashed out in the third while trying to pass Tom Chilton.

German Touring Car Championship

Martin Tomcyk took his first DTM win ahead of championship leader Bernd Schneider. But a bad-tempered race in Barcelona saw Jean Alesi find for brake-testing Mika Hakkinen and Mattias Ekstrom penalised for bumping Schneider. Briton Jamie Green was eliminated in a first-lap pile-up.