Porsche driver survives terrifying brake failure crash at Laguna Seca

The failure struck as he reached the end of the Rahal Straight, bearing down on the circuit’s iconic s-shaped bend recently christened the Zanardi Corkscrew.

Unable to scrub any speed, Del Real’s machine crested the famous blind hilltop at full racing velocity.

The Porsche was launched violently into the air, clearing the track’s safety barriers before plunging into the tree line beyond the circuit perimeter.

Dramatic footage of the incident spread rapidly across social media. The video shows Del Real’s Porsche approaching the corner without any sign of deceleration, white smoke trailing from his tyres as the brakes evidently failed.

As the car crested the rise, it was catapulted skyward over the kerbing, sailing clean over the tyre wall before smashing through the protective catch fencing.

Onlookers watched in horror as the 911 disintegrated on impact, somersaulting into the dense woodland that flanks the track. Wreckage and sections of barrier were scattered across the hillside.

A thick plume of smoke rose from where the car finally came to rest among the trees, obscuring the scene from spectators gathered nearby. The sheer violence of the impact left the surrounding area strewn with debris.

Despite the catastrophic nature of the accident, Del Real survived what many would have considered an unsurvivable impact. He was airlifted from the scene to Salinas Hospital for emergency assessment.

Porsche Motorsport North America subsequently issued a statement confirming the driver’s condition.

"Porsche Sprint Challenge USA West driver Manuel Gil Del Real is awake following an on-track incident during Saturday morning’s race at Laguna Seca," the organisation said.

"He has been transported to a Salina hospital and is being evaluated and treated."

In a further piece of welcome news, no spectators or circuit staff sustained injuries.

The Porsche had careered into a confined area beyond the barriers, meaning the debris field was mercifully contained away from those watching trackside.

In a poignant coincidence, the Zanardi Corkscrew had only received its new name earlier that same day.

The corner was rechristened in tribute to Alex Zanardi, the Italian racing legend who executed his famous overtaking manoeuvre there en route to victory at Laguna Seca in 1996.

Zanardi competed in Formula One between 1991 and 1999 and raced in the CART series from 1996 to 2001.

A devastating racing accident cost him both legs, amputated at the knee. He subsequently reinvented himself as a para-cyclist before his peaceful death on 1 May 2026.

The aftermath of Del Real’s crash forced organisers to postpone the scheduled INDYCAR Series practice session. Officials confirmed on X that the second practice was placed on hold whilst track repairs were carried out.