Two drivers have miraculously walked away from a terrifying crash in race two of the National Trans Am Series at Symmons Plains.
Ben Grice, son of two-time Bathurst 1000 winner Allan Grice, had been leading the race when he suddenly slowed out of the penultimate corner on lap 11.
Unsighted by the car in front of him, Dodge Challenger driver James Simpson, 19, pulled out and slammed into the back of the slow Mustang.
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The contact sent Simpson’s car into the air and onto its roof, sliding across the grass before digging into the ground and landing back on its wheels.
The red flag was quickly drawn, bringing the race to a premature close.
“Jett (Johnson) and I were having a bit of a battle – obviously, it’s not Jett’s fault at all – he put his nose up the inside. I was just coming around the corner, gave him room, and obviously, Gricey was just parked there,” said Simpson.
“I don’t know if he had damage. I just had nowhere to go. I didn’t see anything (yellow flags) put up or anything. I wasn’t notified of it. I just came around the corner and just collected him.
“Bit of a sad or devastating moment, but hopefully we’ll be back for the next round. I seem to be fine, just a bit shook, that’s really it. I’m just glad these cars are built strong.”
After Grice’s exit, James Moffat inherited the lead over Owen Kelly and Lachie Dalton, making it a Garry Rogers Motorsport one-two-three.
Earlier in the race, Supercars full-timer Tim Slade was sent into a spin on the run down to the hairpin after contact from behind by Tom Hayman.
His Ford Mustang slammed into the adjacent wall, bringing out the first safety car of the race.
Race three of the National Trans Am Series is slated for 3:25pm.
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