A wild kangaroo brought a legendary endurance race to a screeching halt, setting the stage for an unlikely victory! The Bathurst 12-hour race, known for its intense competition, kicked off with a truly bizarre incident that left one of the top contenders sidelined. But here's where it gets even more dramatic: the ultimate winner started from one of the lowest positions on the grid!
In a race that was anything but predictable, Maro Engel piloted the No.888 Mercedes of Team GMR to a triumphant finish at the iconic Mount Panorama. This victory, achieved alongside co-drivers Mikael Grenier and Maxime Martin, marked a significant achievement for the German driver and his team. They navigated a grueling 262-lap marathon, ultimately crossing the finish line a mere 1.036 seconds ahead of the second-place No.86 Team High Class Racing Porsche.
The chaos began early, with Supercars star Broc Feeney's race effectively ending before it truly began. Less than 20 minutes into the event, the No.67 HRT Ford Racing Ford Mustang, driven by Christopher Mies, collided with a kangaroo at full racing speed on the formidable Conrod Straight. This unexpected encounter, while not resulting in serious injury to the driver, inflicted significant damage to the car's front-left, forcing it out of contention.
Dennis Olsen, another driver for the sole Ford entrant, revealed the startling speed of the impact, stating that Mies was traveling at an astonishing 250 km/h when the collision occurred. "Luckily, Mies is OK," Olsen shared, emphasizing the driver's well-being as the paramount concern. "We can see that he was for sure impacted by that. I'm glad he's OK, that's the main thing."
Adding star power to the event, legendary MotoGP rider Valentino Rossi secured a podium finish, bringing the No.26 Team WRT BMW home in third place, a commendable improvement from his second-place finish last year.
And this is the part most people miss: Engel and his team achieved this incredible victory despite qualifying a humble 29th out of 34 cars. This remarkable comeback sets a new record for the lowest starting position ever to win the prestigious Bathurst 12-hour endurance race. "I've waited a long time for this," Engel expressed, reflecting on his past Supercars stint in 2013. "It's every bit as special as I dreamt it would be."
Further down the field, one-time Supercars champion Will Brown guided the No.183 Jamec Racing-Team MPC Audi to a respectable fourth-place finish in front of an enthusiastic crowd of 55,231 fans.
The race was not without its further dramatic turns. A red flag suspension halted proceedings for a full hour after the then-leader, Ralf Aron, in the No.77 Mercedes, erupted into flames following a collision with Johannes Zelger's No.79 Porsche. Unbeknownst to Aron, Zelger had spun out just around the bend at Forrest Elbow. Aron, accelerating hard, tragically impacted the stationary Porsche with just three hours and 40 minutes left on the clock, causing his car to catch fire.
Aron's fiery incident wasn't an isolated one. Supercars driver James Golding also experienced a similar fate. After a minor brush with the barrier on the approach to McPhillamy Park, Golding's car became airborne and made heavy contact with the concrete wall, leading to a fiery outcome. Fortunately, both Aron, Golding, and Zelger were able to safely exit their vehicles. Aron was subsequently taken to a hospital in Orange for further medical evaluation.
Adding to the narrative of tough luck, Tickford ace Cam Waters, who had secured pole position in the No.222 Scott Taylor Motorsport Mercedes alongside co-drivers Thomas Randle and defending Supercars champion Chaz Mostert, saw their race end prematurely. With less than an hour remaining, Mostert was involved in a collision with Supercars rookie Jayden Ojeda in the No.2 Team Tigani Motorsport Mercedes.
Considering the dramatic twists and turns, including a kangaroo strike and multiple fiery incidents, do you believe such unpredictable events are what make endurance racing so captivating, or do they detract from the pure skill of the drivers? What are your thoughts on the safety measures in place for wildlife encounters on race tracks?
