Alberto Panebianco must end NWES season due to injury
Alberto Panebianco will not compete in any more EuroNASCAR races in 2022 – The Italian continues to miss out due to injury
“Motorsport is dangerous, they say, I’m learning this on my own skin,” writes Alberto Panebianco on social media. The Not Only Motorsport driver must end his NASCAR Whelen Euro Series season early as he continues to recover from the injury he suffered in an accident in Vallelunga, Italy. Doctors have not given the Italian the green light to compete in the remaining events in Belgium and Croatia.
What happened? Panebianco stepped on the brakes at the Autodromo di Vallelunga, but his Chevrolet Camaro failed to stop. Then he was only a passenger: he turned the car around to optimize the angle of impact ahead of the wall, otherwise he would have crashed head-on into the track barrier. He still turned the car sideways, but didn’t manage to let go of the steering wheel before the impact.
Panebianco broke a finger in the process, which subsequently had to be stabilized with surgery. The Italian was hoping for a quick return to the cockpit, but doctors now put a spoke in his wheel. Rehabilitation has priority, which is why putting the finger under load again is not an option. “The latest examinations have shown that the season is over for me,” reports the disappointed NASCAR driver.
“I’m gutted and angry,” Panebianco continues. “The only thing I can do is work to get back in the race car as soon as I can. I appreciate all the messages throughout the time, they mean a lot to me.” Panebianco started his second EuroNASCAR 2 year with Not Only Motorsport and tried to fight his way back after a few setbacks due to technical issues on his car. In 2021, he won the Rookie Trophy with four wins in the special classification.
Panebianco is not the first Not Only Motorsport driver to have his season ended early. Advait Deodhar already stopped his campaign, as the Indian was unable to make any more starts in the European NASCAR series due to budgetary reasons. He and also Panebianco hope to be able to attack again in 2023. The 2022 season will enter its hot phase on October 8 and 9, when the finale of the regular season will take place at Circuit Zolder in Belgium.
