Driving a classic car on the circuit is nerve-wracking for most. The prospect of balling up a piece of pricey automotive history is more than some drivers can take, and those who find the courage to chance it are wise to avoid thinking of the price tag while on track. The mind has a finite amount of processing power, and concerns about an expensive repair might, ironically, make a driver more likely to lose focus and make a costly mistake.

It’s a dilemma Ian Hunter has to deal with since he regularly tracks an AC Cobra. It’s commendable he drives it as hard as he does, and though he’s clearly learning the lines of Spa and working towards building up some speed, he deserves a salute for taking those chances.

After a series of respectable, smooth laps, some might think about calling it a day, but not Mr. Hunter. Pushing to find a few tenths, he runs wide out of the treacherous Pouhon (1:58) — which is possibly harder than Radillon/Eau Rouge — onto the slippery grass. Though the track had dried from an earlier shower, the agriculture off to the side tends to hold that moisture a bit longer.

While Hunter did a nice job of driving the car straight during his trip though the weeds, keeping the foot floored and trying to return to the track was only asking for a big snap of oversteer. The short wheelbase of his Cobra didn’t help matters, and within seconds, he’d swapped ends, only to stop when his car smashed into the barriers.

Let’s hope it was a replica.

At this point, there was no avoiding the barrier.