Maldonado crashes during demo

Pastor Maldonado’s street demo in front of his adoring fans in Venezuela didn’t quite go according to plan on Sunday…

Pastor Maldonado’s street demo in front of his adoring fans in Venezuela didn’t quite go according to plan on Sunday.

About 20,000 fans and political and military VIPs turned out at Caracas’s renowned national monument, Los Proceres, for a 12-lap demonstration run, but the show didn’t last very long.

Spanish Grand Prix winner Maldonado spun and damaged his Williams FW34 on the second lap and although the team initially tried to repair the damage, a storm forced to them to call off the local hero’s run.

According to eye witnesses, driver error was to blame for the incident.

Caterham reserve driver Rodolfo Gonzelez, who like Maldonado is backed by Venezuelan oil giant PDVSA, saved the day when he completed an eight-lap run in a GP2 car.