Cause of Cleary's double Ipswich DNS revealed

It was a bruising Dunlop Super2 Series weekend at the Century Batteries Ipswich Super 440, however whilst the Race 1 incident between Jarrod Hughes and Mason Kelly got plenty of attention, the hard luck story of Elliott Cleary flew somewhat under the radar.

Having completed Friday practice with results of 19th and eighth, becoming one of several drivers to dive under the practice/qualifying record on Friday, it looked set to be a promising weekend for the 19-year-old.

Cleary qualified 15th in the 23 car field, just under half a second away from Brad Vaughan's pole time, however didn't make it out on to the grid for the opening race of the weekend.

Cleary was spotted in the Super2 paddock with a cast on his left wrist on Saturday afternoon, with the driver of the #38 Eggleston Motorsport Commodore revealing an incident at Sandown a fortnight ago left him racing the clock to make Round 4 of the Super2 campaign.

"Really, really upsetting weekend here at Ipswich," said Cleary in a social media video post-event.

"Coming into this I broke my hand and damaged my wrist a few weeks ago in a Trans Am race, and I didn't know if I was going to be on the grid this weekend.

"We went out for practice and we were in the top 10, so I thought I'd keep soldiering on, but overnight [Saturday] it got worse.

"We qualified the car yesterday, but due to how much pain and risking doing further damage we didn't partake in the race, and the same today."

Cleary did get behind the wheel of the #38 for Sunday qualifying, but after finishing Sunday qualifying in 14th, the decision was made to skip the race again in the best interests of the Melburnian's health.

"I rested overnight, had another go in qualifying this morning, and it was just really, really bad, got worse. But we did it, and weren't even too far off, so that was really, really good to see," Cleary added.

"Again, unfortunately we didn't partake in the race this afternoon, which for me watching on the sidelines was upsetting, but at the end of the day I've got to look after my health.

"Of course, massive thank you to Ben and Rachael, the whole Eggleston team for supporting me, my sponsors for sticking by me and my family.

"I'm going to get this all rested up, and come out at Bathurst punching."

Making it all the more difficult for Cleary, Sandown wasn't originally in his planned two-round Trans Am campaign with Garry Rogers Motorsport.

Cleary was confirmed as a replacement for James Golding at Trans Am's Supercars support races at Darwin and Tailem Bend, however Sandown was a late addition when his Darwin weekend ended with a frightening Friday fire.

Cleary has now slipped to 19th in the points standings, having been 16th entering the weekend. Rylan Gray remains the points leader with just two rounds and four races remaining.

Round 5 of the 2025 Dunlop Super2 Series will be held at the Repco Bathurst 1000 from October 9-12, and will feature a Boost Mobile Top Five Shootout on ahead of the opening race on Friday.