Tony Bates has been discharged from Townsville Hospital with only minor injuries after a sizeable accident at the first corner in Race 1 of the Australian GT Championship.

Bates ricocheted between the concrete walls following side-to-side contact with Steven Richards, the latter a frontal impact in his Eggleston Motorsport-prepared Mercedes AMG GT.

Television footage was inconclusive as to what ultimately triggered the incident.

Richards made a clear deviation to the left of his line through the corner, but it is unclear as to whether or not he had copped a touch or otherwise been forced wide by Tony Walls, who was on his inside as the three ran side-by-side through the sweeper.

Bates was talking to his crew over his incar radio shortly after the accident, before being taken to the circuit’s medical centre, and subsequently Townsville Hospital for precautionary checks.

“Tony Bates has been discharged from Townsville Hospital after scans cleared him of serious injuries,” read a statement from the media manager of Tony Bates Racing.

“He is sore, as is to be expected after such a large impact, but otherwise okay.”

Liam Talbot took his third victory in as many rounds in a race which featured a number of comings together in the 40-minute race, though none as significant as Bates’.

Another two races will be held to conclude Round 4 tomorrow.