Devastating Kangaroo Strike at 250km/h Ends Bathurst 12 Hour Campaign for Former Winner
Former Bathurst 12 Hour champion Christopher Mies found himself covered in blood after a catastrophic kangaroo strike at 250 kilometers per hour just three laps into this year's prestigious endurance race. The German driver had absolutely nowhere to go when the large marsupial unexpectedly jumped onto Conrod Straight well before sunrise, completely destroying the front end of his Ford Mustang GT3 in the violent impact.
Race Hopes Dashed in Dramatic Collision
The high-speed collision immediately ended co-driver Broc Feeney's hopes for redemption in his first major race since narrowly missing out on the Supercars championship title during last year's dramatic grand final. Third driver Dennis Olsen provided a sobering account of the terrifying incident, stating clearly that the team had encountered an animal on the track and struck it at the incredible speed of 250 kilometers per hour.
"Luckily, Mies is okay. We can see that he was for sure impacted by that. I'm glad he's okay, that's the main thing," Olsen emphasized, highlighting the primary concern for driver safety following such a dangerous collision at racing speeds.
Safety Protocols Activated in Darkness
Onboard footage from the car immediately behind the incident clearly showed that track marshals had waved a yellow flag to warn approaching drivers, who subsequently lifted off their throttles in the challenging pre-dawn darkness. The dramatic kangaroo strike prompted race officials to deploy the safety car for an extended period of nearly thirty minutes while track workers cleared debris and ensured racing conditions returned to normal.
Olsen expressed profound disappointment that their impressive Ford Mustang had been prematurely taken out of contention, particularly given the car's strong performance potential at the iconic Mount Panorama Circuit. "Very unfortunate that we cannot show the performance of our car here. What to say? We have to come back next year and try to win," he stated with clear frustration.
Team Vows to Return After Australian Welcome
The German driver continued, "We feel so welcomed here in Australia with our Ford. It's a shame. We're sorry that we cannot show the car more for all the fans and hearing the roaring V8. We have to come back. We loved it here. The track really suited the car well. We're just going to look ahead and try to come back next year."
Remarkably, this was not the only kangaroo incident during the endurance event. Another marsupial struck the No. 32 BMW, though that vehicle managed to continue racing initially before its front end began deteriorating later in the morning session.
Race Continues with Star-Studded Field
While the Feeney, Mies, and Olsen trio found themselves out of the running, numerous other high-profile competitors remained firmly in contention as Sunday's racing unfolded. MotoGP legend Valentino Rossi, sharing driving duties in a BMW with GT racing stars Raffaele Marciello and Augusto Farfus, actually led the prestigious endurance race during his stint in the third hour.
Supercars race winner Cam Waters had secured pole position in his all-Australian Mercedes entry, achieving this remarkable feat just one week after celebrating the arrival of his first child. Waters is sharing driving responsibilities with Tickford Racing teammate Thomas Randle and reigning Supercars champion Chaz Mostert, creating one of the strongest Australian lineups in the field.
