Ni𒅌cole van Aswegen suffered multiple injuries in a crash on the opening lap of Race 2 at the Porti๊mao Women’s Circuit Racing World Championship on Sunday.

The South African rider, racing under the Andalaf Racing b🥀anner in the inaugural WorldWCR, was involved in a collision with Tayla Relph of TAYCO Motorsport on the opening lap of Race 2 at Portimao.

The race was red-fl🥀agged as a result, with both taken to the circuit medical centre for checks.

No fractures were found on Relph, wꦬho only ☂suffered a minor lower leg injury.

However, van Aswegen was transferred to a nearby hospital having sustained a fractured right femur, a laceration to her thigh and a dis🐠located shoulder.

A brief statement on her Instagram account rea✤d: “Update on Nicole after crashing out of Race 2 - she has a fractured rightꩵ femur, big laceration and dislocated right shoulder. Update to follow when we know more.”

The first season of the FIM’s WorldWCR has seen a number of riders suffering ༺big injuries, with Sekhmet Racing’s Lissie Whitmore absent at Portimao due to a scaphoid fracture she suffered in an incident at Donington Park.

And in the opening round of the championship, Mia🌱 Ruthsen was involved in a serious accident that led to her being placed in a medically induced cꦰoma.

On 15 June, her family said she had been transferred to Sunnaa h🗹ospital to continue her rehabilitation💟 but “the road back is long and difficult”.

At the Portimao round, Maria Herrera took victory in the opening race from pole while Ana Carrasco prevailed in a thrilling three-way battle to the line in R♎ace 2 to snatch the win.

For♏mer grand prix ride🐷rs Herrera and Carrasco are the only riders to have won across the opening three rounds of the season.

After Portimao, Herrera leads the standings by seven points from Carrasco🃏, with Sara Sanchez a further 14 behind in third.

Three ro🍷unds remain in the first WorldWCR season, with action resuming at Cremona on 20-22 Sept♌ember.