BJR's high hopes crash

The high hopes of Brad Jones Racing claiming its first Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 victory have been virtually extinguished in a cruel opening to the 2014 race.

During a safety car period triggered by the team's Fabian Coulthard/Luke Youlden Lockwood Racing entry hitting a Kangaroo, the Jason Bright/Andrew Jones BOC entry was rammed up the rear by the Advam/GB Galvanising Holden Commodore VF driven by Dale Wood/Chris Pither.

Jones was in the BOC Commodore at the time and Wood in the Advam entry.

After repairs Jones has continued in the BOC Commodore, but now four laps off the pace. Wood's car has been withdrawn.

The only silver lining is the Lockwood Commodore is back on the lead lap after Youlden earlier ran off and bogged in the Caltex Chase sand trap because of a flat tyre.

The calamities followed a brilliant few days of practice and qualifying for the family-owned team, which started all three cars in the top 10.

"To come to this after the high of Friday is gobsmacking," said team co-owner Kim Jones. "I don't know how you fix the safety car thing, but it's just a difficult situation.

"Motor racing is dangerous. We've seen it in Formula One and we have seen it here. The only good thing is no-one got hurt today."

Asked why he and his brother loved the Bathurst race so much, Kim said: "I don't know, ask me next year."