Collector Behind Supercar Showdown Crashed Porsche 918 Into A Crowd Days Later

Last Friday, a British production team posted a video documenting the first time the big three hypercars—the McLaren P1, the Ferrari LaFerrari and the Porsche 918 Spyder—have been independently compared on a track. In the car world, this is a big deal. At the beginning of said video, a man by the name of Paul Bailey, 55, talks about lending his $3 million dollar-plus trio of machines in the name of science.

But at the time the video was released, Bailey was recovering from a serious head injury in a Maltese hospital—and one of the cars in question had already gained some Internet infamy.

On Sunday, Oct. 4, Bailey and his $900,000 Porsche 918 Spyder lost control during a demonstration run at the Malta motor show—held to raise funds for L-Istrina, a charity fund-raiser. The car crashed through a temporary barrier and into the crowd, injuring at least 26 people, along with Bailey himself. The British millionaire, who made his fortune in the telecommunication business, is thought to be the first person in the world to own all three hypercars. His white Porsche, now literally coated in blood, was the very one used to conduct the definitive showdown a few weeks earlier—sporting the license plate, “POR 918S.”

Here’s the video from the hypercar shootout, filmed Sept. 18:

Here is the crash that took place in Malta just 16 days later:

The Malta run took place on an airstrip at the Paqpaqli Ghall Istrina motor show, where crowds gathered along the side to watch the 211 mph missile in action. During the long straight, a makeshift chicane was added. Bailey clipped the grass on corner exit, causing the rear tires to slide, looping the 918 directly into the crowd. The Times of Malta reported some spectators suffered severe head injuries, multiple fractures and abdominal injuries, with four listed in serious condition.

The video below shows Bailey giving a passenger a ride on the course, “2-3 minutes before the horrific accident.”

Bailey is well known around England for his love of fast cars. Since receiving his McLaren P1 late last year, it is estimated he has raised over $30,000 for charity by raffling ride-alongs. He owns roughly 50 supercars, and often loans them to charity events free of charge. He remains good friends with former Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson, too; indeed his LaFerrari is being used in the “Clarkson, Hammond and May Live” world tour. Bailey spent a number of days in the hospital following the crash, with his condition described as “serious but stable.” On Saturday, six days after the crash, he was reportedly discharged and cleared to return home to England. The investigation into the incident continues.