Photo: Performance Motor Media [Turney with friend Antonelli]
It concluded an up-and-down event for the factory Kart Republic driver. He was fifth fastest in his group and classified 23rd overall in qualifying, but climbed to ninth in the event’s intermediate classification after coming third in his first two heats and following that up with a 13th place, a fifth, a fourth and a second place.
The superheats followed and Turney won his from fifth on the grid, which lifted him two more places in the intermediate classification and put him seventh on the grid for the final.
He rose to third on lap one, and when VDK Racing’s Fionn McLaughlin ran Alpine junior Kean Nakamura Berta too deep in an attempted pass for the lead on lap two it enabled Turney to slip by both.
Former British Formula 4 racer Turney quickly began to pull away, but then factory CRG karter Gabriel Gomez hunted him down and took the lead on lap 10. Turney got back past the next lap but then squeezed Gomez and it resulted in a collision that sent both into the grass and ultimately retirement.
Although Turney was able to move his kart back onto the track, as he pushed it along and tried to get it going again – doing so in the middle of the asphalt rather than on the outside of the corner he had gone off at – DPK Racing’s Nacho Tunon rushed past.
The rear of Tunon’s kart slid out as he navigated the corner, with the rear-left wheel hitting Turney’s lower right leg from behind. The impact was bad enough, but Turney’s leg then buckled and he went down with the ankle folding over almost 150° two times. Turney was able to geture to marshals for assistance and thankfully recieved medical attention.
“I want to say a massive thank you to EVERYONE for the support they’ve given with messages etc. it means a lot,” Turney wrote in an Instagram story later that day.
“I’m starting the long road to recovery! Again thank you to each and everyone for all of their support, it means the world to me.”
Turney did not indicate when a racing return would be possible.
He also wrote supportive mesages to Tunon, saying “it was never your fault mate, we’ll be back on track soon”, after the Spanish karter shared how the incident had affected him. Tunon ended up retiring from the final later that lap.
“Still in shock about today. All my thoughts are with Joe and I wish him the best recovery. Hope to see you back as soon as possible,” said Tunon.
“Racing was cruel for me today, but it was an amazing day for my team and family DPK Racing as they became back-to-back world champions. Motorsport can destroy you, but it can also make you shine, and that is one of the reason why we love it.”