A dramatic and chaotic start to the Bathurst 12-hour race left spectators on the edge of their seats. The unexpected hit that changed the game - a kangaroo collision! But here's where it gets controversial...
Team GMR, led by former Supercars driver Maro Engel, emerged victorious from the chaos. Their Mercedes, with co-drivers Mikael Grenier and Maxime Martin, crossed the finish line at Mount Panorama, claiming the top spot.
The factory-supported Mercedes team won the 262-lap marathon by a slim margin, just over a second ahead of the Porsche in second place.
But the real drama unfolded early on. Supercars star Broc Feeney's race ended abruptly when his co-driver, Christopher Mies, hit a kangaroo at top speed on Conrod Straight. The impact was intense, with the Ford sustaining significant damage to its front-left.
"It was a shocking moment," said Dennis Olsen, the third driver for the Mustang team. "Mies was racing at 250km/h when he hit the kangaroo. Thankfully, he's okay, but the car took a beating."
And this is the part most people miss... the impact of such an incident on the driver. Mies, a two-time winner at Bathurst, walked away from the crash, but he was covered in kangaroo blood. A powerful reminder of the risks these drivers face.
Legendary MotoGP rider Valentino Rossi finished third, continuing his impressive run at Bathurst.
Team GMR's win is even more remarkable considering they qualified 29th out of 34 cars. Engel, who previously raced for Erebus in 2013, expressed his joy: "I've dreamed of this moment for a long time. It's an incredible feeling to finally achieve it."
The race also saw an hour-long suspension under the red flag after a fiery collision between Ralf Aron's Mercedes and Johannes Zelger's Porsche. Aron's car was destroyed, and he was taken to the hospital for checks.
Another Supercars driver, James Golding, also suffered a similar fate when his car caught fire after a heavy collision with the concrete wall. Golding, like Aron and Zelger, was able to exit his vehicle safely.
So, what do you think? Is it the skill of the drivers or the luck of the draw that determines the outcome of such a chaotic race? We'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments!
