Ronaldo Javi Batista
| Ronaldo Javi Batista | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Batista in 2022 | |
| Born | Ronaldo Javi Batista 2 May 1999 Cardoza, Paraboca |
| Died | 26 June 2023 (aged 24) Ananico, Jade, Zamastan |
| Crown Formula career | |
| Debut season | 2019 |
| Current team | Poldero |
| Car number | 97 |
| Wins | 3 |
| Podiums | 11 |
Ronaldo Javi Batista (2 May 1999 - 26 June 2023) was a Parabocan racing driver who competed in Crown Formula from 2019 until his death in 2023 at the Ananico Grand Prix. In his racing career, he recorded three Grand Prix wins and a total of 11 podium placements. Prior to his death, he was considered the best up-and-coming racer from central Euronia. In 2023, Batista hydroplaned during the final lap of the Ananico Grand Prix and crashed into Zamastanian driver Arnaud Crozier before he slammed into a concrete wall. Batista died instantly, and the crash also killed Crozier and left three other drivers injured. Batista and Crozier's deaths sent shockwaves through the world and resulted in Crown Formula restructuring many of their safety procedures.
Early life and racing career
Driving style
Death
At the 2023 Ananico Grand Prix, weather conditions were less than ideal, as a torrential downpour prior to the race made the track noticeably slippery for drivers. An early 5th lap spinout and crash by Hiroši Coyabaši drew warnings from some race officials, but the determination to continue the race was made. With only minor spinouts occurring throughout the rest of the race, it came down to a five-way challenge for first between Arnaud Crozier, Ronaldo Javi Batista, Harrison Thompson, Alex Spalding, and Miles Kingston, with several drivers close behind. However, the 10th turn, second to last before the final stretch, proved to be disasterous as Batista's car lost control and appeared to hydroplane into Crozier, who in turn smashed into Thompson, Spalding, and Rudy Silander.
Going at a speed of 305 km/h (190 mph), Batista's car began to slip and could not take the turn at the left corner, and, continuing in a straight line, collided with Crozier. Batista's car smashed into the side wall, killing him instantly, and Crozier' car collided with Thompson before it was flipped twice, smashing through a tire barricade and into the concrete barrier. Harrison Thompson, Alex Spalding, and Rudy Silander's spinouts resulted in sufficient damage to their cars as well, and all suffered minor injuries with the most serious being a broken arm for Thompson and a contusion for Silander. Drivers directly behind the crash were able to avoid the damage and continued, but anyone more than a half lap behind were stopped. Miles Kingston, the Unified Sera driver, managed to avoid the crash and sped on to the finish, only discovering the horror that he narrowly avoided after he stopped and exited his car, cutting his celebration short with visible shock and tears. In the press conference following the race, Kingston said "I can't feel satisfied, I can't feel happy" with his win following the events that had occurred during the race weekend.
At 2:23 pm local time, a red flag was shown to indicate the race was stopped and race doctors arrived at the scene to treat the drivers. When a race is stopped under a red flag, cars must slow down and make their way back to the pit lane or starting grid unless notified of a restart. This protects race marshals and medical staff at the crash scene, and allows easier access for medical cars to the incident. After seeing the accident scene, IMA President Viktor Bunyachenko was so distressed that he left from the race.
Since the crash had finished on the final lap, the race was concluded, and the participating drivers agreed to perform an honorary lap to commemorate Crozier and Batista. Miles Kingston's number 27 car led the somber procession, with a Zamastanian and Parabocan flag draped on the hood as the vehicles slowly made their way around the course.
The Crown Formula organization released a statement of condolences, with the Zamastanian chapter organizer saying "these racers distinguished themselves every day for the world to see, and today is the greatest loss in formula history." The organization also said that it would be conducting an extensive investigation into the accident, and that the upcoming Calatas Grand Prix in Paraboca would be postponed for a few days for both safety reviews and out of respect for the late Parabocan driver.
The other Zamastanian driver on the course, Timothee Snowden, said of Crozier "he was the greatest racer I've ever gone up against, and I'm certain that my comrades would say the same. He was the epitome of greatness on the track, taking his wins in pride, taking his losses in stride, and always striving for better."
Caspiaa's Bjoren Djurna, the winner of the 2021 Championship who famously beat Crozier in a narrow finish at the Rio Palito Grand Prix that year, said of both drivers "Arnaud and Ronaldo were friendly, competitive souls and I am honored to have spent time with both of them on and off the race track. Today's just, it's horrible. It's horrible. It's a loss for their families, for the racing community. The sad irony of Crozier having lost his life here in Zamastan, Ronaldo having done so a week before Calatas, it's fateful. It's horrible fate. We'll miss these guys a lot."