NZ driver remains on life support after crash

New Zealand race car driver Mark Porter remains on life support in a Sydney hospital after crashing at Bathurst on Friday.

Porter, 31, is in the intensive care unit at Royal Prince Alfred with serious chest injuries. His wife Adrienne, his one-year-old son Flynn and his parents are with him.

Hamilton-born Porter was airlifted to hospital in a critical condition after fellow V8 driver David Clark ploughed into his stalled Holden Commodore at close to 180km/h during a second tier V8 race at the Bathurst 1000 meeting.

Australian driver Clark - who has a punctured right lung as well as fractures to his pelvis, right arm and leg - has regained consciousness and is breathing unaided.

Porter had been a front-runner in the second-level series for several years. He had a busy year behind the wheel and was sitting in third position 2006 V8 Development Series.

Porter was scheduled to drive the second BOC Gases Ford in the Bathurst 1000 tomorrow with Dale Brede and has been replaced by Michael Caruso.

V8 Supercars chief executive Wayne Cattach said a thorough investigation would be held into the crash.

Three men have died driving at Bathurst - Mike Burgmann in 1986, the 1967 Formula One world champion Denny Hulme suffered a fatal heart attack while driving in 1992 and Don Watson in 1994.

- NEWSTALK ZB / NZHERALD STAFF