Sirromet Wines Holden Commodore driver Paul Morris escaped injury when his V8 Supercar slammed into a trackside barrier at 190-km/h and flipped upside down at the Pukekohe circuit in New Zealand today. The accident happened after the VZ Commodore driven by the 39-year-old from the Gold Coast made contact with Brad Jones’ BOC Ford Falcon on lap six of the third and final 43-lap race in round three of the V8 Supercar Championship.
Morris was immediately examined by medial staff at the track and cleared of injury. He then returned to the Paul Morris Motorsports pit area at the track, which is located south of Auckland, and watched the remainder of the race with members of his team. The PMM team faces a race against time to repair the Commodore before the fourth round of the championship at Winton in Victoria from May 18-20. All body panels on the car, plus front and rear suspension, and the differential were destroyed in the crash, and the chassis rail was partially bent.
Morris’ car will be transported from Auckland in a Boeing 747 on Tuesday evening and is expected to arrive in Brisbane on the morning of ANZAC Day. The Commodore will then be taken to Morris’ team headquarters at the Holden Performance Driving Centre on the Gold Coast. Initial cost estimates for damage are a minimum $100,000. The figure could be doubled if further assessments reveal the engine and gearbox are damaged beyond repair.
The accident completed a disappointing round for Morris. He was forced to withdraw from the previous two races because of rising water temperatures. The engine in his Holden was replaced between races two and three.
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