In a recent event, the Lada Racing team of Andrew and co driver Tony were leading their class by 58 seconds, in any man’s book, a comfortable lead. But it wasn’t to be a dream run. On stage 3, coming into a long down hill, Andrew put the car into 4th gear. (Approx 140Km/h). Approaching them at great speed was a 6 crest to left 6 (a slight rise in the road to a very fast left hand bend).

Andrew crested the rise and went to turn left, but nothing happened, the car continued on straight. Andrew believes that the car was airborne, that’s why it didn’t turn. On the outside of the left hand bend was a ditch. When the car responded and started to turn left, it dropped the 2 right wheels into the ditch. Andrew kept the foot buried, trying to get the car to pull itself out of the ditch.

Its believed, at 150Km/h, the front of the car collected something in the ditch (its hard to see at that speed), cart wheeled once, and then barrel rolled three times, to end up in the bushes, leaving the service crew with a difficult task of retrieving the car from the bush. RIP EVO1!!!

Andrew and co-driver Tony escaped unscathed, a testament to the strength of Samaras. No windows broke, (except for the windscreen which suffered a small crack). The car suffered major structural damage though, and will not be repairable. The F/A-18 landing lights Light Pod, was unfortunately destroyed.

See photos here.

Queensland Drivers

New South Wales Drivers

Photos of the team in action