Three drivers, one car: Timeline of Stanaway crash fallout
Richie Stanaway's crash in Boost Mobile Qualifying on Friday afternoon set of a chain reaction that has seen three drivers steer the same car at the VAILO Adelaide 500.
Stanaway suffered a bellringer on Friday, the Kiwi recording a 52G impact at the infamous Turn 8 sweeper in Race 23 qualifying.
The New Zealander took part in Saturday morning practice, but as his health deteriorated, the situation accelerated.
Stanaway crashes
Late on Friday afternoon, Stanaway clouts the Turn 8 wall in qualifying, but manages to return his damaged Penrite Racing Ford to pit lane. Crashes for Cameron Hill and David Reynolds see the session declared, with Stanaway not returning to the track on Friday.
Stanaway takes part in Practice 3
The 2023 Bathurst winner took to the track on Saturday morning for Practice 3, and ended up 19th in the session, completing 18 laps as head enveloped the Adelaide circuit.
Stanaway fails medical check
After practice, Stanaway alerted his team that he didn’t feel well, with the 33-year-old taken to the medical centre. Following consultation from Supercars medical delegates, Stanaway was ruled out due to delayed concussion symptoms.
Tander unavailable, Allen announced
Garth Tander, on site with the broadcast team, didn’t have racing gear on-site to stand-in for Stanaway. The team announced Allen as the substitute, amid the teenager's ongoing Super2 title fight in Adelaide.
Allen blocked, Wood called up
Just half an hour after the team’s first announcement, Penrite Racing confirmed Allen was ineligible to race, with Dale Wood quickly drafted in. Wood had just been beaten in a last-corner thriller in the Porsche Carrera Cup Australia race, and was put in a Penrite suit and sent out to race.
Wood completes Adelaide opener
It wasn’t an easy race for 41-year-old Wood, who started from pit lane amid scorching temperatures, and finished 22nd, one lap down. Wood survived an off at Turn 5 to bring home 39 crucial points for his team.
Rule signed off
On Sunday morning, Supercars and Motorsport Australia both granted Allen dispensation to race, with Super2 teams signing off on a rule tweak, subject to another medical check for Stanaway.
Allen drafted in
A further check was undertaken on Sunday morning to assess Stanaway's capacity to compete, and the Kiwi was ruled out. Allen was called up, with the rule tweak allowing the teen to compete.
Allen qualifies 19th
Allen rolled out on Sunday morning and was 19th on the time sheets after the first runs, but that was as good as it got after Jaxon Evans suffered a big hit at Turn 8, ending the session.
Allen finishes 22nd
Allen picked up significant rear damage in the early laps and crawled to 22nd, matching Wood's result. Crucially, the 39 points helped Penrite Racing hang onto fourth in the teams' championship by 45 points over Dick Johnson Racing.
