Supercars star Andre Heimgartner has sensationally hit out at rivals “driving like absolute losers” as his team boss questioned the use of co-drivers in a chaotic start to the Bathurst 1000.
Brad Jones Racing was one of the teams caught up in the stunning early drama in Sunday’s race, with Heimgartner’s race over before it started as teammate Dale Wood was struck by Tickford Racing’s Zane Goddard as he re-entered the track.
Wood was left in tears over the incident and Goddard was almost certainly the target of some strong comments from Heimgartner, who hit out at a lack of patience at the start of the 161-lap race.
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“It’s like these people don’t realise there’s 161 laps and they’re driving like absolute losers so hopefully they get their s*** together and we don’t have more safety cars,” Heimgartner said.
“Tickford, us, everyone puts in so much effort and then for everyone to just to take everyone out like that and especially that last one is pretty wild and I’d be pretty surprised if my car isn’t significantly damaged and will need to be rebuilt
“… it’s not what anyone needs and we’re only on bloody lap four.”
Heimgartner’s team boss Brad Jones agreed and also suggested the allowance of co-drivers — usually the less credentialed and experienced of a team’s two drivers — was contributing to the mayhem.
Co-drivers starting the race has become increasingly common feature in the race over the past decade.
“(Andre) is probably taking it better than me to be honest. I mean what can you say we’ve had two safety cars in the first seven laps.
“I guess the elephant in the room is starting co (drivers). It’s a 161-lap race, goes for six-and-a-half hours or something. I mean, I don’t know what’s going on.
“… I get it, accidents happen but this is a very, very long race and to win it you’ve got to be there at the end. Some of the stuff that’s going on at the moment is just, I think anyway, a bit unnecessary.”
