Asian Motor Sports

Racing at Pukekohe Park Raceway stalled on Saturday following a spectacular high-speed crash in the GT3 Cup series.

Porsche GT3 driver Dean Fulford was sent to hospital for observation after his car was launched over the three metre high safety catch fence and into the packed crowd in front of the main grandstand on pit straight.

While Fulford waved to the crowd as he was lifted into the ambulance his Porsche showed exactly how dramatic the crash had been.

Safety crew at the track had to lift the car over the steel cable and mesh net fence with a crane and part of the stand was closed for the rest of the day to be fixed forcing fans to find new seats to watch the main event of the day - the opening race of the V8 Supercars.

No spectators were injured in the incident and MotorSport New Zealand president Steven Kennedy paid special tribute to the effectiveness of the safety procedures in place at the track.

“A potentially serious accident at the V8 Supercar meeting at the Pukekohe International Raceway was averted today thanks to the effectiveness of the safety systems at the circuit and the strength of the Porsche GT3 roll cage,” Kennedy said.

Kennedy said there was no reason to question the standard of the track because of the accident.

“The circuit has an international rating and is inspected by international inspectors to the level expected by the FIA,” he said.

(Image © Getty Images / Phil Walter)