Santiago Luján Saigos & Mateo Karelovich's Fatal Crash @ Ensenada 1965 (Aftermath)
- 7 months ago
Renowned Argentine driver Santiago Luján Saigos perished in an accident during the Vuelta de Ensenada, a Turismo Carretera race held on Sunday, 16 May 1965. In the accident was also killed his occasional acompañante Mateo Karelovich who had replaced Santiago's usual co-driver, his elder brother Jorge Saigos. The Saigos brothers, who were prominent figures in the Turismo Carretera scene in the 1960s, had already announced the decision of retiring from racing, being involved in their family business.
Ironically, Karelovich sat alongside Saigos in the car only the day of race. Due to a blood pressure problem, he was replaced by Vicente Tirabasso during Saturday practice session, but recovered in time to start the race on Sunday.
Saigos and Karelovich crashed in the last meters of the first lap of the race, held on the Triangulo De Ensenada also known as "Circuito Jorge Orduna", a 19.873-kilometer public roads course which passed through Camino Costanero Almirante Brown - Calle 37 - Ciudad de Ensenada - Camino Rivadavia - Avenida 74 (now Avenida Domingo Mercante) - Rotonda de Punta Lara, near the town of Ensenada, province of Buenos Aires, Argentina.
The Ford Falcon #10 driven by Santiago Luján Saigos went off the road at high speed near Punta Lara, after a small jump passing over a street-car crossing railway, ending its slid against a large eucalyptus tree. The subsequent impact was fierce, its force divided in two the car which burst into flames, being the driver killed on the spot. Co-driver Karelovich sustained severe burns from which he died shortly afterwards.
According to eyewitnesses reports, Saigos lost control of the car trying to avoid a dog that suddenly crossed the road, this has not yet been confirmed. In the accident several spectators were also struck by the out of control car, being injured.
R.I.P
Ironically, Karelovich sat alongside Saigos in the car only the day of race. Due to a blood pressure problem, he was replaced by Vicente Tirabasso during Saturday practice session, but recovered in time to start the race on Sunday.
Saigos and Karelovich crashed in the last meters of the first lap of the race, held on the Triangulo De Ensenada also known as "Circuito Jorge Orduna", a 19.873-kilometer public roads course which passed through Camino Costanero Almirante Brown - Calle 37 - Ciudad de Ensenada - Camino Rivadavia - Avenida 74 (now Avenida Domingo Mercante) - Rotonda de Punta Lara, near the town of Ensenada, province of Buenos Aires, Argentina.
The Ford Falcon #10 driven by Santiago Luján Saigos went off the road at high speed near Punta Lara, after a small jump passing over a street-car crossing railway, ending its slid against a large eucalyptus tree. The subsequent impact was fierce, its force divided in two the car which burst into flames, being the driver killed on the spot. Co-driver Karelovich sustained severe burns from which he died shortly afterwards.
According to eyewitnesses reports, Saigos lost control of the car trying to avoid a dog that suddenly crossed the road, this has not yet been confirmed. In the accident several spectators were also struck by the out of control car, being injured.
R.I.P