A MOTORSPORT legend’s son was rushed to hospital after a first-lap crash left his car “torn to pieces”.
Clay Richards, the son of five-time Bathurst 1000 champion Steven and grandson of seven-time Bathurst 1000 winner Jim, was involved in a nasty accident during the Toyota 86 Series at Bathurst on Friday.
FOX SPORTSA Bathurst race was abandoned following a horror crash[/caption]
FOX SPORTSThe crash left Clay Richards, the son and grandson of Bathurst 1000 winners, unconscious and in hospital[/caption]
The brutal crash came less than a minute into the race at Turn 1 of lap 1 in a Friday afternoon support race of the GR Cup, which was subsequently abandoned.
Several Toyota 86 cars made contact with each other as Richards was sandwiched in and got crunched in between two cars with nowhere to go, leaving his car sitting still on the track.
Another car driven by Harrison Blanchard then hit him from behind and caused significant damage to his car.
Commentator Chad Neylon said: “Absolutely smashed into the side of the car and we’ll instantly jump to a safety car here.
“Look at the damage on that car, it is torn to pieces.”
An ambulance swiftly arrived on the scene which took Richards to Orange Hospital.
He later posted an update on his social media page, revealing he was knocked unconscious in the collision.
Sharing a picture as he sat fully clothed on a hospital bed, he said: “Had a nasty shunt today which sent me to the ER.
“For those who don’t know I was involved in a multi car pile up which knocked me out.
“Feeling a lot better though slight headache but got released from hospital tonight.
“Big thank you to the medical staff who looked after me at the scene and in the medical centre.
“As well as the staff and paramedics at Orange Hospital.”
GR driver Alice Buckley had added on commentary: “Not something you see very often in this category, there is a tendency of incidents to happen on the straight after turn one.
“But never in an 86 have I seen that happen.
“Happened really quickly. We were lucky to not end up with a car on their roof over here.”
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