German footballers ‘shocked’ by sponsor’s car crash, says Bierhoff

ST MARTIN, Italy (Reuters) – German players are in shock after two people were hit and injured by one of the cars during a driving event organised by a team sponsor, team principal Oliver Bierhoff said on Wednesday. A 63-year-old German tourist and a local man employed as a race marshal were taken to hospital on Tuesday afternoon after being hit during the driving event organised by team sponsor Mercedes at Germany’s pre-World Cup training camp in Italy. German internationals Julian Draxler and Benedikt Hoewedes were passengers in the vehicles driven by German touring car (DTM) driver Pascal Wehrlein, who hit the two men, and Formula One driver Nico Rosberg. “It was a big shock for the team, even though only two players were involved,” Bierhoff told a news conference. “Most of the players were resting and some were playing golf with (former world number one) Martin Kaymer at the time. Julian Draxler and Hoewedes are the two who experienced the accident and were extremely affected by it. “Julian and Benedikt needed to discuss it afterwards,” Bierhoff added. “We immediately made our sports psychologist available, who spoke with the drivers and players.” Bierhoff said he and the drivers had visited the injured in hospital. The Germans have been preparing for the World Cup in Brazil next month since last week at an Alpine hotel and will stay there until June 1. Local police chief Johann Ramoser said the course had been securely cordoned off. “The course has been secured for the event and has been well sealed,” he told the news conference. Mercedes spokeswoman Claudia Merzbach said the event was neither a speed or a race, but simply a presentation and test of two new vehicles. “It was a product presentation on a closed circuit. Two people were injured. We cannot and are not allowed to say more. It was not a race but just a presentation of the two vehicles.” (Karolo Grohmann, edited by Jean-Pierre Roux)