TBK-Light.com

***An increasing issue with kangaroos at Mt. Panorama has resulted in event promoters having to bring in “population control” personnel for the weekend, who will attempt to prevent skippys from entering the track. It’s understood snipers will be strategically located atop the mountain and will only shoot if absolutely necessary.

The Mobil 1 GT3 Endurance team’s Bathurst 12 Hour campaign has been thrown into turmoil following a road car accident involving four of its drivers.

The injured drivers were taken to hospital following the road crash in the Bathurst suburb of Kelso yesterday.

Phil Mauger and Hayden Knighton are expected to remain in Bathurst hospital for several days.

Scot O’Donnell has been released from hospital but will not compete in the #66 Porsche which went out in opening practice with Michael Lyons finishing 26th fastest.

Lindsay O’Donnell was released from hospital and is yet to decide whether he will race in the #69 car he was listed to share with Mauger and Frank Lyons.

Lyons was 48th in practice however whether the team continue for the rest of the weekend is yet to be decided.

A major crash in New South Wales has left three Kiwi race car drivers injured, including one believed to be in an induced coma with a spinal injury.

Christchurch construction company director Phil Mauger and Christchurch Mag & Turbo Warehouse owner Hayden Knighton were the most seriously injured after their car was sandwiched between a fuel tanker and three cars on the Great Western Highway about 1.30pm yesterday.

They were travelling with two other GT3 Endurance Ltd teammates to Bathurst where they were to race in the annual Bathurst 12 Hour race on Sunday.

Driver Scott O'Donnell said they were stopped at a red light in Kelso, 5km from their destination, when the truck rear ended them, sending their rented BMW X3 hurtling into three cars in front.

"We were stopped dead and this truck just came through and blew into us all, I don't know what speed but it was enough to do a lot of damage to us and also the car," O'Donnell, the managing director of Southland's HW Richardson Group, said.

Local newspaper the Western Advocate, reported nine people were taken to hospital from the crash.

Mauger and Knighton were in the backseat, travelling with was in the car with Scott O'Donnell, his uncle Lindsay O'Donnell, who owns Amherst Properties in Christchurch. They were among a team of six racing two cars for the Christchurch-based team.

They flew from Christchurch to Sydney early yesterday for the event.

Scott O'Donnell, speaking from his hospital bed, said Mauger and Knighton were the most seriously injured after being cut from the wreckage and flown to Sydney Hospital.

He said he believed Mauger had been placed into an induced coma after damage to his vertebrae. Knighton had pelvic injuries.

Scott O'Donnell, of Invercargill, said his uncle Lindsay was never admitted to hospital while he remained in Orange Hospital with cracked ribs.

He said his son was already in the country, while Mauger's wife was at his bedside.

The team entered two Porsches in the competitive Class B and both were gunning for a spot on the podium.

"It's soul destroying for us as you can imagine because the cars are there and we can't use them. we paid all the money the freight and preparation . . . let's just say it's never cheap."

Two other members, British father-and-son duo Frank and Michael Lyons are racing one of the cars in practice sessions today, with the team bringing in substitute driver.

The Western Advocate said the crash brought traffic to a standstill..

Inspector Andrew Spliet told the newspaper the cause of the crash was unknown and an investigation by the Bathurst Crash Investigation Unit was underway.

Maranello Motorsport boss Mark Coffey says the outfit is investigating an option to use AF Corse’s #3 Ferrari 458 which withdrew from the event earlier this week.

“The car unfortunately is totalled,” Coffey told Speedcafe.com.

“It’s not repairable here, it is back at the shop, so we are considering doing something with AF Corse as they have a spare care here. Its a disappointing start.

“If we can strike a deal with the AF Corse car then we can continue.

But D’Alberto’s run ended with a nasty crash at Forest’s Elbow which also included the #99 Craft Bamboo Aston Martin Vantage driven by Jean-Marc Merlin with both cars suffering significant damage.

D’Alberto was treated on the side of the circuit with the session red flagged with just over five minutes remaining before he was transferred to the medical centre for observation.

He was then taken to Orange hospital, just over 50km from Bathurst.

What is "STIX"? It's on almost all the cars and ruining a bunch of liveries, lol.

Thanks for all the well wishes. I'm ok, just getting some routine checks at the Hospital. Neck is a little sore, but otherwise ok.

Car is badly damaged and I feel terrible for the crew at Maranello Motorsport. I was following another car past a gentleman driver in an Aston Martin on the way down the mountain, he was off line and letting cars past.... I don't think he saw me unfortunately.

That was easily the biggest crash I have ever had!!

Not a good start for the Bamboo Aston and last year's winning Ferrari. No idea how the Ferrari driver is.