Benz Bent in 200km/h Off
Erebus Motorsport V8’s Andrew Thompson has survived a wild 200km/h-plus ride across the Caltex Chase relatively unscathed after brake failure in his Heavy Haulage Australia Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG during today’s co-driver practice session at the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000.
Despite hitting the tyre wall and being trucked back to the pits, the Benz should be repaired in time for regular pilot Tim Slade to take part in the final practice session starting at 3.35pm AEDT.
Thompson, who co-drove with Slade to 21st place at the Wilson Security Sandown 500, said he elected to head for the sand trap rather than t-bone the Fabian Coulthard/Luke Youlden Lockwood Racing Commodore.
“I was just coming into the Chase, got on to the brake pedal and it went to the floor,” Thompson explained. “I had a car in front of me so I tried to avoid them as best I could with no brakes.
“I headed off the track to the right of the Chase, through the gravel trap and just tried to get it turned so I could make it around the corner.
“But I just couldn’t get enough angle and hit the tyres.
“I think it is all pretty superficial, just radiators and bolt-on bits … so I think we got away with it pretty good.”
It is understood the brakes failed because a hydraulic line came off one of the rear brakes, probably because of some debris on the track.
“We will look at it and see what we can do to make it better,” said Thompson. “It could have been a lot worse so I don’t think we can be too disappointed."
Slade and Thompson were running in the top 10 at Sandown until a slow last pit stop. Thompson said that had given the duo confidence for Bathurst, although fuel consumption will be an issue against the established Ford and Holden V8 Supercars, as it is for the new Nissan Altima.
“It was always going to be a tough weekend for us with our fuel issue, that’s a penalty for us before the lights even go out,” Thompson admitted. “But we will keep working on the car to get it in the window and I think we can put in a good showing.
“Anything can happen. It’s already happened to us on Thursday, but hopefully that is all our bad luck out of the way and gone.”
Click here for full session results.
