That of María Costello and Shaun Parker was one of the serious accidents that led the TT organization to cancel the Sidecar category this year. Although there is no official information on the reason for the accident, there is speculation that a hare crossing at the time they passed was the start of the accident.
In any case, the reason for the accident is not important. The important thing is the consequences of it and the fact that Costello has been seriously injured. Fortunately, the co-pilot, Parker, has “only” suffered different fractures and according to the information he will be able to recover from them without having permanent physical consequences.
So all attention falls on Costello, who has a really complicated injury report. It must be said that María was celebrating her thirtieth anniversary in the race this year, like McGuinness, and that after the accident and being treated at the Nobles Hospital on the Isle of Man, she was transferred by helicopter to Aintree Hospital in Liverpool for treatment.
From there the information that arrives is not very flattering, confirming fractures of the T5 and T6 vertebrae, a fracture in the arm and sternum, a broken nose and eye socket, cuts on the forehead and a grade four tear in the liver. As if all this were not enough, Costello is currently, as described, “paralyzed” from the chest down.
Costello’s recovery will be long and a lot of money will be needed
For this reason and given the complicated and long recovery that the British pilot will have to face, her entourage has launched a fundraiser through GoFundMe, both to help with the medical part and with the adaptation of her home, since she will need accessibility. The possibility of changing it is even being considered.
In any case, those same news speak of Costello’s determination to recover and even compete again. An ambitious goal that, we hope, María can achieve.
Regarding the future of sidecars on the Isle of Man, the organization has confirmed that the 2026 cancellation does not mean the end of the category for the future. However, they will look at the regulations for future editions, especially in the aerodynamic plane, which has advanced a lot in recent years, and which could be linked to some of the accidents that occurred this year.
