Those who were seriously injured over the weekend were mostly children from the impoverished capital of Huila province.

Some 23 car drivers and 15 motorcyclists were set to participate in the 72-lap race as part of the 20th edition of the Nossa Senhora do Monte festival.

The car race had to be stopped after the 10th lap, however, when a Porsche hit the barrier and skidded into a crowd of onlookers.

The race drew a crowd of about 500 000 spectators from in and around the city of Lubango.

A local radio station, Radio 2000, reported during a live broadcast that the driver - identified only by his surname, Guevia - had never professionally raced before Sunday.

He escaped without injury.

While it is not unusual for the driver to get hurt while racing, this was the first time that spectators were killed during the Huila 200-kilometre race, Radio 2000 further reported.

Many of those that were rushed to hospital were in critical condition and in need of blood donors.

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