Jacob Lawrence has emerged unharmed after a car-launching crash that has derailed his lead-up to the final round of the Monochrome GT4 Australia Series at Sandown Raceway.
During the category’s opening practice session at the historic suburban Melbourne circuit, Lawrence lost control of his BMW M4 GT4 at the exit of the first corner.
The BMW launched up the armco barrier, skating across the top before coming to a rest back on the grass inside the circuit’s perimeter.
Lawrence, a two-time champion of the GT4 Australia Am class, was taken to the event’s medical staff and cleared of any injury.
The Randall Racing team is now surveying the damage sustained to the BMW and, if it can be repaired, aims to have the car ready for qualifying and the first race tomorrow.
The final round of the Monochrome GT4 Australia Series is being held as part of the Shannons SpeedSeries at Sandown. Tickets to the event are available at speedseries.com.au. Fans who can’t make it to the track can watch live on Kayo Sports in Australia on Saturday and Sunday. International viewers can watch the action on the GT World YouTube channel.
QUOTES
Jacob Lawrence
Driver, #32 BMW M4 GT4
“I'm okay, which is good, but the car has sustained a bit of damage,” said Lawrence.
“The impact wasn't as abrupt as what I was anticipating.
“I was on old tyres, and they weren't in the best conditions. I probably just asked a bit much of them in the opening stages of practice.
“I was pushing on over the ripple strip on the outside. I jumped on the gas and rear tyres lit up, and then I was just a passenger.
“So on the inside of the track, I’ve hist the armco barrier, and luckily that absorbed a lot of the impact
“I felt like I was Tony Hawk for a few moments. The car went across the railing, and the back onto the grass.
“Certainly not the way I like to start my Friday.
“I had a look at the car, and I think because the armco threw me up in the air, the actual impact itself wasn't too fierce.
“We'll have a good look at it, pull it apart and see what we can do. Right now, it's probably 50-50 if we’ll get it back out for tomorrow, but fingers crossed.”