DTM finale in doubt? Thierry Vermeulen hurt after victory leap

Thierry Vermeulen, a 24-year-old driver, won the GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup finale in Barcelona on Sunday. However, his victory was overshadowed by an apparent injury to his foot. Vermeulen, who is the protege of Max Verstappen, jumped off the roof of his Ferrari 296 GT3 Evo in celebration, landing awkwardly and causing him significant pain.

Technical director Jurg Flach confirmed that the jump was the cause of the injury, noting that the drivers' shoes lack cushioning and have a thin sole, making a jump from a certain height potentially harmful. Despite the setback, Flach expects Vermeulen to compete in the DTM season finale at Hockenheim. Vermeulen currently sits 11th in the championship standings with 98 points, slightly behind the points he had at the end of last year's season.

His teammate, Matteo Cairoli, remains in contention for the title, but would need a chaotic race to have a chance of catching up. The team is not considering a replacement driver as they are confident in Vermeulen's ability to compete in the upcoming event.