Motorsport: Bathurst heartbreak for Pedersen as he hits wall

Ant Pedersen

It was a heart-breaking day for Rotorua driver Ant Pedersen at Bathurst 1000 after being sent into a wall early in the race. The Super Black Racing co-driver was hit from behind by Team CoolDrive's Karl Reindler on lap 37 of 161, sending him crashing into a wall yesterday.

Reindler copped a penalty for the contact which ended the race for Super Black Racing.

Pedersen did not appear to be injured in the crash which happened after he rounded a corner in his Ford Falcon.

Pedersen's team mate Andre Heimgartner said Reindler was racing "too hard" early in the race which led to the contact.

"We had a fast car today and it was looking good but, oh well, that is how it goes," he said.

Pedersen and Heimgartner finished 11th last year during Super Black Racing's first appearance on Mount Panorama. Super Black Racing posted on their Facebook page: "Great prep, great start, and we get a nudge from behind in lap 38 that sends Ant Pedersen hard into the wall. The team worked so hard to all get it right so it's very disappointing. I guess we look forward to next year."