Vic: Promising driver dies in race crash
MELBOURNE, Aug 9 AAP - Fast rising race car driver Stewart McColl, of Sydney, has diedafter crashing into a wall at the Phillip Island race track south of Melbourne this afternoon.
McColl, 23, was driving a Volkswagen Golf during a practice session for tomorrow'sround six of the Procar Australian GT Performance Championship at Phillip Island GrandPrix circuit.
It would have been Newcastle-born McColl's first drive with Volkswagen teammate PaulStokell, who had qualified in pole position with McColl second on the grid.
The team has withdrawn from tomorrow's race, which will begin with the first row ofthe starting grid empty.
Confederation of Australian Motorsport president Colin Osborne said McColl crashedon turn four of the circuit at 1.39pm (AEST) today.
"Event promoters and circuit operators were cooperating with authorities investigatingthe accident," he said.
"This is a very sad day, but you will all be aware motor racing carries with it somesignificant risks," Mr Osborne said.
The accident happened on a corner at an extremity of the Phillip Island circuit, awayfrom most spectators, Procar spokesman Chris Nixon told AAP.
"It was a single car accident, there were no other cars involved," Mr Nixon said.
"He crashed on a corner that is a little difficult, but is out of sight of the mainspectator area so it is hard to know what actually happened.
"The cars all carry data recorders, so there may be some clue to the cause once theyare retrieved.
"Stewart McColl was a fast rising, promising driver who was certainly considered tohave the capacity to be a top driver," he said.
AAP ag/sjb/de
KEYWORD: DRIVER
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