Christopher Mies started the #64 Haupt Racing Team entry and pulled off to the left-hand side of the Conrod Straight just a few laps into the race.

The German driver quickly extracted himself from the cockpit and signalled for help, covered in what appeared to be blood.

“Unfortunately, we had an animal on track and hit it at 250km/h,” said Mies’ co-driver Dennis Olsen.

“Luckily, Mies is okay. We can see that he was for sure impacted by that. I’m glad he’s okay, that’s the main thing.

“Very unfortunate that we cannot show the performance of our car here.

“What to say? We have to come back next year and try to win.”

Confirmation that the Mustang hit a kangaroo on Conrod Straight. Mies appears shaken – as you would be – but ok.

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It’s the second DNF in a row for Broc Feeney, whose Audi R8 suffered a steering failure in 2025.

Olsen said he hoped the team would return in 2027.

“It’s been great. We feel so welcomed here in Australia with our Ford. It’s a shame,” Olsen continued.

“We’re sorry that we cannot show the car more for all the fans and hearing the roaring V8.

“We have to come back. We loved it here. The track really suited the car well. We’re just going to look ahead and try to come back next year.”

At the same time that the Mustang was taken out, the David Crampton #50 KTM X-Bow buried itself in the gravel trap at Murray’s Corner.

Maximilian Gotz led the race in the #77 Craft-Bamboo Racing Mercedes-AMG ahead of the pole position-winning #222 Scott Taylor Motorsport car of Thomas Randle.