James Winslow is to be featured in a new
BBC documentary series focusing on bravery in life-threatening situations, following his daring rescue of a rival during the 2006 Asian F3 Championship.
The series, entitled
Accidental Heroes, will air at the end of May, and Winslow's 'story' will feature interviews with the Briton and the man he rescued, Moreno Soeprapto, as well as dramatic unedited footage of the accident and rescue at Indonesia's Sentul circuit.
The Asian F3 series was drawing to a close by late September and Winslow was in the running for the title when he and Soeprapto made contact on the opening lap of round 14. The Indonesian was drafting Winslow into turn three when he ran into the back of the Briton, his car being catapulted up and over Winslow's and barrel-rolling off the track before landing sideways, with the driver's head against the tyre wall.
Even before the race was red-flagged, Winslow was rushing to his rival's aid, only to find the fuel line on Soeprapto's car had ruptured. After switching the fuel pump off, Winslow fought to free the local favourite before the car erupted in flames and, despite the spilt fuel catching light dramatically, managed to help Soeprapto to safety.
Although the Briton attempted to play down the magnitude of his actions, the resulting blaze had been big enough to damage over fifty metres of tyre wall and left burns the length of his racesuit.
It was one of those situations where you really didn't have time to think, Winslow says, recalling the moment, It was another driver in there and I knew I just had to try and get him out. It was fortunate that Moreno was driving the car that I had driven the previous season, so I knew where the fuel pump switch was. That probably bought us precious time.
