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Scott McLaughlin has emerged from a spectacular crash during Armor All Qualifying at the Vodafone Gold Coast 600.
The championship leader clipped the wall at Turn 3 which then sent him hard into the outside concrete wall, forcing the Mustang onto its side before it slid and eventually came to rest on the inside of the corner.
McLaughlin was sitting on top of the time sheets before the incident which brought out the red flags, with the session declared shortly after.
Shane van Gisbergen was among those first on the scene, pulling his car up and climbing out to help McLaughlin out of the stricken car.
Recovery crews quickly extracted McLaughlin, who was able to walk to the medical car before being transferred to the circuit medical centre.
It is unclear at this stage if the car can be repaired in time for this afternoon’s race that could see McLaughlin secure a second Supercars Championship.
However, McLaughlin’s co-driver Alexandre Premat has suggested that it is likely they will be forced to sit out the rest of the event.
“That’s a pretty bad incident but fortunately Scotty is alright, so he could jump out of the car,” said Premat.
“For sure it’s bad ending the day like this but it’s motor racing. I think Scotty did the best that he could do.
“All that matters that Scotty’s out of the car.”
Van Gisbergen said it didn’t matter what car it was and that he felt the need to try and help in any event.
“Not a nice feeling to come around the corner and see one of your mates on the side way after the corner,” said van Gisbergen.
“I mean, it must have been a big shunt. I helped him out but the medical team were there fast, and all the fireys and stuff.
“So thanks to them. Saw him get out. He’s pretty shaken but he’s okay. He’ll be fine. But not nice.
“It’s irrelevant who it was when I first saw it, I just wanted to get there and help. You’d do it for anyone in the field. It wasn’t a good thing. I don’t know what to say, it was shocking.”
UPDATE: The #17 entry has been ruled out of the rest of the event
