Super2 driver Mark Porter passed away 20 years ago today
Kiwi died 72 hours after accident in 2006 Bathurst Super2 race
Porter made 79 career Super2 starts, four Bathurst 1000 starts
Thursday October 8, 2026, marks 20 years since the passing of former Super2 driver Mark Porter, following injuries sustained in an accident 72 hours prior in the Friday Super2 race at Mount Panorama.
The popular Kiwi lost his fight for life on the same Sunday afternoon that Craig Lowndes and Jamie Whincup claimed an emotional win to be the first recipients of the Peter Brock Trophy.
Porter's passing served as a tragic footnote to what was already a highly emotional weekend, being the first Supercars event held since the passing of Peter Brock in a tarmac rally in Western Australia just four weeks prior.
Porter is still sorely missed by the Supercars and Australasian motorsport communities, after becoming a fixture of the Super2 paddock and Supercars enduro grids from 2002 to his untimely passing in 2006.
Team Kiwi Racing had Porter on their enduro roster in both 2003 and 2004 alongside Craig Baird. Team owner David John reflected upon the passing of his former driver ahead of his team's return to the Supercars scene at Bathurst, where Porter's legacy will be front of mind.
“He was the ultimate professional, and he was very savvy businessman,” John told Supercars.com when asked what his memories of Porter were.
“He was a great guy to have in the team. We had him in both 2003 and 2004 alongside Craig Baird, and the synergy with Bairdo was great.
“It was a very sad day when we lost him, but we’ve made sure to look after the family this weekend.
“His son Flynn is going to be at Bathurst, and we’ve got guests from the Porter Group coming over as well, and we’ll take them on a tour of our garage and everything.”
Porter had broken through for his first Super2 race win at Queensland Raceway just two and a half months earlier at Queensland Raceway, and entered Bathurst third in points, where had also finished the 2003 and 2004 Super2 seasons.
On a weekend that was already sombre following the passing of Brock in the weeks leading up to the race, Bathurst was brought to a stunned silence when Porter was hit in the driver's side door by Ford driver David Clark at Reid Park.
Both drivers were rushed to hospital in a critical condition, and while Clark would recover, Porter passed away aged 32, leaving behind wife Adrienne and son Flynn.
“I remember when it happened, it was just complete shock when we saw it unfold," said John of the incident.
“When something like that happens, it’s felt right the way through the whole fraternity, and especially for us and those who had worked closely with him in the past.
“You’ve got to remember as well that on that same weekend, we had Paul Radisich have his big accident in our #021 in the big race. It was such a tough weekend for everyone.
“With the memories and tributes for Peter, and then Mark’s accident, as well as Paul’s, it was just the saddest day you could have at a race track.”
Baird was also in attendance at Bathurst that weekend, driving alongside 2000 Bathurst winner Jason Bargwanna at WPS Racing, and shared his memories of Porter back ahead of the 10th anniversary at the 2016 Bathurst 1000.
“He was a bit of a character. He was one of those blokes who was very good at business away from the track, and he applied and adapted himself very well to driving a motor car,” Baird told Supercars.com back in 2016.
“Motorsport was something that he did for a bit of fun. It’s just such a tragedy when you lose someone that is doing something as a form of golf – their weekend fun – and it’s not their profession.
“The rest of us don’t really think about the risks, it’s what we do to make a living. So it’s a little bit different. If it happens, it’s almost – it may sound wrong – but it’s almost a little bit more acceptable. I think it put everyone in absolute shock, as we often take our sport for granted.”
Porter was due to participate in the 2006 Great Race with Brad Jones Racing alongside the late Dale Brede. Michael Caruso would ultimately make his Supercars debut in the most trying of circumstances alongside Brede.
Such was the rarity of a driver being seriously injured in an accident, that Baird didn't initially consider the possibility that his good friend was in grave danger.
“I saw the accident, I was in the garage and I didn’t even think worst case scenario. I thought the first thing that Mark would have thought was ‘did I hurt the new paintjob on my helmet?’” Baird remembered.
“That’s the sort of bloke he was. Great family man, great mate to a lot of people, so yeah, it was a great loss. Obviously for his family, but for his mates and the motorsport community.
“Being teammates in [2003-04], I really did know him well on and off the track. I guess shock was the main thing. We talked about the shock of the passing of Peter Brock, but when your mate passes it is just utter shock. You can’t believe the devastation. It’s something that you have to try to accept. It’s bloody hard, though.”
The DUNLOP Super2 Series will be on track for two practice sessions at 9:00am local time and 2:50pm.
