TERRIFYING scenes were seen in the Formula E season opener in Sao Paulo as a huge crash left debris strewn all over the track.
British driver Jake Dennis won the race from pole but not before a scary incident which saw rookie Pepe Marti flip over in the middle of the air.
Marti was involved in a barrel roll after clipping the Porsche of Nico Mueller and the Jaguar of Antonio Felix da Costa at high-speed on the narrow circuit.
Onboard footage from the 20-year-old’s car saw him running up behind the cars in front as they slowed down for a yellow flag caused by Mitch Evans smashing into the wall during a crash with Envision driver Sebastien Buemi.
Cupra Kiro driver Marti was unable to arrest his momentum before hitting both and being launched airborne.
He then did a barrel roll mid-air and flipped over multiple times before spinning and coming to a rest down the track.
The Spaniard’s car even sparked into flames, but thankfully he was able to walk away from the crash unaided.
It was the second season in a row where a horrifying crash overshadowed the racing.
Dennis then raced to victory over the remaining two laps, with reigning world champion Oliver Rowland and Nick Cassidy completing the podium.
Only 12 drivers ended up completing the chaotic race in the scorching 31 degrees Celsius heat in Brazil.
Marti’s outspoken Cupra Kiro team-mate Dan Ticktum also had a nightmare season opener as he was forced to retire from the race.
A lap one collision with ex-Formula One star Nyck de Vries forced the Brit to pit for a puncture.
But he then received a drive-through penalty for his car being worked on in an unsafe condition and received another one for performing a burnout in the pit lane.
British racer Taylor Barnard, who exclusively spoke to SunSport earlier this week, also did not finish the event.
Barnard, 20, opened up on his hopes of one day getting to F1, where the season finale is playing out tomorrow with Max Verstappen on pole ahead of championship leader Lando Norris.
If Norris scores a podium in the Abu Dhabi race he will become the 11th Briton to be crowned F1 world champion in the sport’s 75-year history.
McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri – who will need to race to the front for a chance at winning the title as he sits 16 points behind Norris – qualified in third.
Fans will now need to wait until January 10 for the second race of the Formula E season.
The best travel deals for F1
SEE and feel the thrill of the Grand Prix experience with these unbeatable deals.
F1 races in 2026
*If you click on a link in this article, we will earn affiliate revenue.
