Four photographers have been hurt in a crash involving Brodie Kostecki at the Gold Coast 500 Supercars race at the Surfers Paradise street circuit.
The 2023 Supercars title winner was on his second run in the second Qualifying session when his Dick Johnson Racing Ford Mustang went straight on the first corner complex. The Ford struck a barrier nose-on, and four photographers standing behind the concrete barrier have been injured.
An hour later, Supercars released a statement: “Following Brodie Kostecki’s high-speed crash into a tyre wall during Saturday’s Qualifying Session, Supercars can confirm that four photographers required medical attention.
“Two photographers sustained ankle injuries, one suffered an elbow injury, and a fourth received a head injury. All four are alert, talking, very stable, and will be transported to hospital for further assessment. All are in a stable condition.
“Motorsport Australia has implemented changes to photographer access in that area for the remainder of the event.
“Supercars extends its thanks to the volunteers, officials and medical crews for their swift and professional response.”
Kostecki was unhurt in the incident.
“[I’m] physically good, but I hope the people behind the barrier are okay,” Kostecki said. “There was some news that there was some injured people there.”
Kostecki had damaged the Mustang’s left-front corner in the earlier first qualifying session, and was already 16th in the session, from which the top 10 drivers advanced to the afternoon’s Top 10 Shoot Out, in which Walkinshaw Andretti United’s Ryan Wood took pole position.
Kostecki will miss Saturday’s afternoon’s opening 250km race while the team has taken the unusual act of removing the car from the track. It is being transported to the nearby workshop of Pace Innovations, which builds and rebuilds Supercars chassis. There, DJR and Pace will work on having the car repaired in time for Sunday’s 250km race.
The Gold Coast event is the first round of Supercars’ new Finals system, with 10 drivers eligible to win the 2025 title. Three drivers will be eliminated from the list at the end of Sunday’s 250km race.
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– The Autosport.com Team
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