Update (12/07): Angel has posted on Instagram and Twitter to confirm that – most importantly – he is okay, but facing more surgery for an ankle fracture after being knocked off his motorbike outside his home.
According to multiple reports, including the official Gran Turismo social media channels, 2022 Gran Turismo World Series runner-up Angel Inostroza has been injured in a traffic accident.
Neither the nature nor severity of the accident are entirely clear at present. Players across sim racing who are close to the popular Chilean racer have reported that Inostroza was knocked off a motorbike by another vehicle near his home, and sustained a lower-leg fracture that has required surgery.
Inostroza is a fan favorite in the Gran Turismo community and elsewhere in sim racing too, known for his rather cheery demeanour (encapsulated by the image above). He also endeared himself to players with a very plainly stated press conference following the controversial 2022 Gran Turismo World Series final.
Indeed the well-wishing from the gaming community has been flooding in to news of his accident and injury, including from Kazunori Yamauchi himself:
Along with his exploits in Gran Turismo, where he has won rounds in both Nations Cup and — representing Porsche — the Manufacturers Cup, Inostroza is a top-level driver in Assetto Corsa Competizione.
Driving, of course, a Porsche for the YAS Heat team, he finished third in the Silver category standings in the 2022 GT World Challenge Esports America series, claiming two round wins. Advancing to Pro for this year, he sits third overall again.
There’s just a month to go until the first of 2023’s major Gran Turismo finals, the World Series Showdown in Amsterdam, and Inostroza was among the favorites coming off the back of a bronze medal in the Olympic Esports Week last month.
It’s not clear at this time if he will be able to attend or if his spots in both Nations and Manufacturers will be occupied by other drivers. While there’s a good chance he could recover in time for this event, he’s almost certain to miss out on two rounds of the GT World Challenge.
Naturally everyone at GTPlanet is hoping for a speedy recovery!
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