BRAD Jones Racing has endured a horror first 50 laps of the 2023 Repco Bathurst 1000.
Its spearhead entry of Andre Heimgartner/Dale Wood was the cause of the race’s second Safety Car period on lap 38.
Wood was left stranded in the Murray’s Corner gravel trap after an overtake from Scott Pye ended with the right-rear of the Team 18 Camaro bumping the left-front of the BJR entry.
The second BP Ultimate Safety Car is triggered as Dale Wood slams into the fence at Murray's Corner!
— Supercars (@supercars) October 8, 2023
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The #8 R&J Batteries Camaro went a lap down in the incident, although could roar back into contention later on thanks to the race’s ‘lucky dog’ Safety Car wave-by rule.
Just four laps after Wood’s incident, BJR had double-trouble on its hands as Macauley Jones and Jack Smith collided at The Chase.
Jones bumped Smith into a spin, and subsequent contact between the left-rear corners of the cars caused suspension damage to both.
Jack Smith is spun by his teammate at The Chase!
— Supercars (@supercars) October 8, 2023
Car #6 is also handed a 5 second time penalty for unsafe pit release.
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The two Camaros limped back to their garage. Smith lost three laps while repairs took place, while #96 co-driver Jordan Boys eventually rejoined 12 laps down in the Jones entry.
Jones was dealt a 15-second time penalty for the incident.
It was the second time in four years that teammates Jones and Smith have collided in the Bathurst 1000.
BJR’s other entry, the #14 of Bryce Fullwood and Dean Fiore, is running strongly having escaped penalty for an early tangle between Fiore and Simona De Silvestro.
