The drama began at the bus stop chicane when Patrick Heuzenroeder made contact with Matias Zagazeta on the approach to the first turn.
That broke the right rear suspension of the Australian’s car, causing him to slide out of control across the grass.
Zagazeta took another hit, this time from Michael Shin whose left front suspension broke.
Unable to control his car, Shin slid off the track and took Arvid Lindblad with him. The Red Bull junior skated across the grass and into the outside concrete wall.
Heuzenroeder, Shin, and Lindblad all suffered race-ending damage. Lindblad was worst off, leaving his M2 Competition team with a sizeable repair job before Sunday afternoon’s finale.
Miraculously, Zagazeta took no damage and was able to continue despite suffering hits to the left rear and right front. He would finish sixth.
For Feeney and Brown, it was a case of skipping through the grass to try and avoid the melee. Brown, however, couldn’t escape the carnage and lost his front wing as he bounced over the rough.
The three non-finishers labelled the crash a racing incident. No driver was hurt in the clash.
Shin was the first to speak on the incident and laid no blame on anyone
“I saw Patrick go off and when he re-joined, Matias tried to avoid him and he went into me,” said Shin.
“it was not really Matias’ fault at all because he was trying to avoid a different car and I just had nowhere to go.”
Heuzenroeder was optimistic the team would have his car fixed in time for the New Zealand Grand Prix, where he will start third behind the Red Bull drivers Broc Feeney and Will Brown.
“I’m absolutely fine,” said Heuzenroeder.
“I just went in. Everyone really checked up into the bus stop and I went in on the outside on the right and then something clipped my rear right so I went up [in the air] a bit, across the middle.
“Luckily no one hit me but I think a few people reacted and got some damage. It’s not a great way to start the morning but hopefully I can get another good start from P3 this afternoon.”
After going off into the concrete wall, Lindblad was left covered in dust.
Fortunately, the crash had no impact on his title hopes having secured the crown with three races to spare.
“I’m fine, I’m looking forward to the grand prix now and hopefully trying to finish the weekend strongly,” said the Red Bull junior.
“The start wasn’t great. Into Turn 1 it all kicked off. I think there was a bit of contact in front of me and Pat was on the grass. Then they all came across and I was the one on the right and the last one to get hit and sent into the wall. It’s fine. It’s a racing incident.
“The car is a bit damaged, but I’m sure the boys will get it sorted for later on today and then we can look forward to a good result.”
The race resumed on Lap 6 with Nikita Johnson at the head of the field with Nicholas Monteiro in tow.
Johnson and Monteiro skipped away from Shawn Rashid, leaving him to battle front-running Kiwi Zack Scoular for the final place on the podium
The fight at the front of the field was short-lived. Ultimately, Johnson was untouchable and won by 1.119s. Monteiro was second and Rashid third while Scoular and countryman Sebastian Manson were fourth and fifth respectively.
After his front wing change, Brown restarted the race in 14th and finished 12th with a five-second penalty for exceeding track limits. Feeney was only 13th.
Feeney will start the 69th New Zealand Grand Prix from pole position alongside Brown.
