Scott Pye has been taken to Orange Hospital with suspected broken ribs following a heavy crash in the closing stages of the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000.

The DJR Team Penske Ford smashed into the wall at Sulman Park while running 11th on lap 138 of 161.

Pye was briefly knocked unconscious due to the severity of the impact, before exiting the car with the assistance of medical staff.

The driver was then taken to the circuit’s medical centre before being transferred to Orange in a road car for further assessment under the instruction of V8 Supercars medical delegate Dr Carl Le.

The team is still investigating whether a steering arm failed before Pye hit the wall.

“The whole DJR Team Penske crew were devastated as we watched Scott’s accident from the pits,” said DJR Team Penske managing director Ryan Story.

“The team’s performance this weekend, led by Scott, has been outstanding, so it is very disappointing to see him crash out in such a way.

“Our initial technical inspection suggests the car may have broken a steering arm on the run down into Reid Park pitching Scott into the wall.

“He is battered and bruised of course, and we suspect he may have broken one or two ribs.

“Dr Carl is supervising some checks at the Orange Base Hospital so we know he is in great hands. We wish Scott the speediest of recoveries.”

Pye had been one of the star performers earlier in the day, charging through the top 10 and taking crucial track position from Jonathon Webb’s Tekno Autosports Holden prior to a rain shower.

“The whole stint was unreal,” Pye had reflected immediately afterwards. “It was the most fun I’ve had in a race car in a long time. I was cheering on the radio every time I made a pass.”