Son of Formula One idol unharmed after crash

Rio de Janeiro - Geraldo Piquet, the eldest son of three-time Formula One world champion Nelson Piquet, walked away unharmed after his race truck flipped and exploded in a fireball.

The 34-year-old was competing in the fourth round of Brazil’s Formula Truck championship at the Ayrton Senna race track in the city of Goiania.

Piquet admitted he was fortunate not to be seriously injured in the accident, which left his vehicle a smouldering heap of twisted metal, reported Xinhua.

“It all happened so fast but I kept calm,” Piquet said. “I knew everything would be Ok. But now I’m not sure what will happen in the next race because we’re going to have to put together a whole new truck.”

Nelson Piquet won the Formula One world championship in 1981, 1983 and 1987.