Audi is off to a bad start at this year’s Le Mans 24 Hours, as one of their R18 e-tron cars gets smashed to bits, and their top driver Loic Duval hospitalized as a result of that. The accident happened at ‘Porsche Curves’ corner during a practice session.

Duval escaped the Audi R18 crash with minor injuries and was alert and talking after the accident, probably thanking the people who enforced the closed cockpit rule, as that was what saved his life. His No.1 Audi went airborne and slammed the wall at very high speed, and is pretty much destroyed.

This car was apparently the same car Audi used in the welcome back video they made for Porsche. It was really an act of mockery and intimidation, so maybe karma had something to do with the crash!

Audi is going to have to bring in a replacement for the wrecked car and that means they will be penalized. So in addition to the accident which was a massive blow for moral, they might lose their place on the grid as well. All this is obviously very good news for their rivals.

Via Jalopnik