Terrifying Crash at Mount Panorama: Son of Bathurst Champion Hospitalised After Horror Smash
- Clay Richards, son of five-time Bathurst 1000 winner Steven Richards, was hospitalised after a frightening crash at Mount Panorama.
- The incident occurred on lap one of the Toyota Gazoo Racing Australia GR Cup, with Richards slamming into a stationary car at the first turn.
- The crash forced Bathurst officials to abandon Friday’s racing schedule, with Richards later confirming he had suffered a serious concussion from the impact.
- Richards has since been released from hospital and is recovering after the ordeal, thanking medical staff for their care.
Clay Richards, the son of Bathurst champion Steven Richards and grandson of seven-time champion Jim Richards, was hospitalised after a terrifying crash at Mount Panorama. The incident occurred on lap one of the Toyota Gazoo Racing Australia GR Cup, with Richards slamming into a stationary car at the first turn.
The crash was a multi-car pile-up, with Brock Stinson spun sideways and T-boned before walking away unhurt. Richards was caught in the middle, crunched between two cars and left stranded on the track. Moments later, Harrison Blanchard slammed into the back of Richards’ car, as debris scattered and multiple vehicles piled up.
“Absolutely smashed into the side of the car and we’ll instantly jump to a safety car here,” Chad Neylon said in commentary. “Look at the damage on that car, it is torn to pieces.”
GR driver Alice Buckley described the crash as “not something you see very often in this category”. “It happened really quickly. We were lucky to not end up with a car on their roof over here.”
Richards took to social media to update his followers on his condition. “Had a nasty shunt today which sent me to the ER,” he wrote. “For those who don’t know, I was involved in a multi-car pile-up, which knocked me out.”
“Feeling a lot better, though with a slight headache, but got released from the hospital tonight. A big thank you to the medical staff who looked after me at the scene and at the medical centre as well as the staff and paramedics at Orange Hospital.”
The crash forced Bathurst officials to abandon Friday’s racing schedule, with Richards later confirming he had suffered a serious concussion from the impact. Richards has since been released from hospital and is recovering after the ordeal.