Motorsport: Crash ends Team Kiwi's V8 hopes

Paul Radisich

The season for Team Kiwi Racing a has come to a premature end after their car was destroyed in a high-speed crash at the Bathurst 1000.

The sole New Zealand team in the V8 Supercar Championship had worked its way through to the field to challenge the top 10 when Paul Radisich crashed in lap 72 of the 161-lap race at Mt Panorama.

He was trying to avoid Paul Weel, who had run wide and forced Radisich into the dirt after the chase at the fastest part of the circuit. Radisich hit the tyre wall at 200km/h, putting the car on its side.

The car was destroyed and the roll cage had to be cut to get him out.

Radisich, badly bruised by the safety harness and complaining of a sore back, was taken to hospital for a check-up.

Team Kiwi Racing owner David John said that otherwise Radisich was in good shape. "It was unavoidable really and Paul had no choice," John said.

"It was such a shame because we were going very strongly.

"Paul was really upbeat and felt we had a very good race package. I'm sure we were looking at a top-10 finish.

"We are a one-car team and this car has been totally destroyed by the accident and in cutting the roll cage to get Paul out.

"There's not much we can salvage." The time it would take to build a new car and the high cost were beyond Team Kiwi's budget.

"The team are devastated.

"We've put so much in and were going so well. And now, for something that was not our fault, it could mean the end of the season.

"I can't see us being able to do a lot with the resources in hand."

John said it was testament to the car's designers and builders that it was able to withstand such a heavy impact.