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Reigning race winner Chaz Mostert has suffered a broken left leg and wrist during a heavy accident in qualifying at Bathurst.
Three marshals were also injured in the accident at Forrest’s Elbow, with one taken to hospital in a stable condition.
CLICK HERE for Speedcafe.com’s separate story on the marshals.
Mostert misjudged the run to the Elbow on his first flying lap of the session, clipping the wall on the left before subsequent heavy contact on both the right and left hand sides.
The car rode up the wall during the third impact, damaging fencing and a marshals’ post before coming to rest on the circuit.
Mostert was conscious and talking to his team immediately after the accident before being extracted from the car and transferred to the circuit’s medical centre.
“Chaz Mostert has a confirmed fractured left femur and fractured left wrist following an accident during qualifying for the Bathurst 1000,” read a Prodrive statement.
“He is receiving pain relief but is otherwise okay. He did not lose consciousness and has been talking to family and team-mates in the circuit medical centre.
“The V8 Supercars medical team, led by Doctor Carl Le, is treating him ahead of Chaz being airlifted to hospital.”
No qualifying times had been recorded before the crash, with the session likely to be rescheduled for tomorrow morning after all track action was abandoned.
Mostert’s crash occurred at approximately 170km/h during the series of corners between The Dipper and Forrest’s Elbow that are taken flat-out.
“It’s not a place you expect to have a crash,” said Paul Morris, who co-drove with Mostert to win last year’s Bathurst 1000.
“At that point you’re flat, pulling gears and looking to turn into the right-hander at the Elbow.
“The car has run a little bit wide and he’s left his foot in it. I can guarantee you he’s not thinking about that corner, he’s looking at the next one.”
Mostert missed qualifying for his Bathurst debut in 2013 while his car was being repaired from a practice crash, before being excluded from last year’s session after passing under red flags.
“He’s just destined not to qualify for this race,” said Edwards.
“(But) he’s in good spirits. His comment to me was good job we signed that contract a couple of months ago.”
The exit of the Mostert/Cameron Waters Ford will leave the Great Race field at 26 cars; the second time in as many years that a high profile contender has crashed out on Friday.
It also leaves Mostert’s V8 Supercars Championship campaign in tatters, having entered Bathurst less than 200 points from leader and team-mate Mark Winterbottom.
