Heimgartner replaces Walsh for Bathurst 1000

Andre Heimgartner has replaced the injured Ash Walsh as Tim Slade’s Brad Jones Racing co-driver for the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000.

Walsh crashed heavily at Phillip Island testing a prototype sportscar last week and travelled to Bathurst hoping to race.

Sporting four fractured ribs, Walsh was due to drive the Freightliner Commodore to assess his fitness on Thursday, but that plan was scuppered by Slade’s accident at the Esses during Practice 1.

He instead turned three laps in the sister Boost Mobile Commodore in the co-driver session, a run that ended in the gravel trap at the Chase, and emerged upbeat about his prospects of driving.

However Walsh has now been replaced by Heimgartner - who had been placed on standby - for the weekend.

The Freightliner Commodore has been repaired overnight by BJR and will take to the track this morning after missing almost all of Thursday’s running.

Carrera Cup driver Heimgartner will be making his fourth Bathurst 1000 start, having spent the last two years as a full-time Supercars driver with Super Black Racing and Lucas Dumbrell Motorsport.