Daniel Erickson’s promising production touring car debut in today's Bathurst 12-Hour race ended before he had the chance to put his helmet on after his car’s owner crashed out barely 10 minutes into the marathon.
Erickson had been eyeing a potential podium result after setting the fastest qualifying lap of the Morcom Motorsport BMW 335i’s three drivers in his first competitive appearance at Mount Panorama.
With the 6.30am start likely to be on a wet circuit Barry Morcom took the wheel for the first driving stint due to his greater experience in the slippery conditions, but on lap five he lost control through the high-speed McPhillamy Park corner.
The turbocharged BMW slid back across the track and slammed into concrete retaining wall on the inside of the circuit.
Morcom was uninjured in the crash, but the car was damaged irreparably.
“Obviously I’m extremely disappointed not to have driven in the race, but there are no guarantees in this sport – you can be out on the first lap or the last lap in any race, whether it’s a sprint or an enduro,” Erickson said.
“The most important thing is that Barry’s okay. Cars can be replaced but people can’t.
”Anyway I’m pleased with my performance in qualifying, because I hadn’t expected to go faster than my co-drivers, who both have a lot of experience in this type of racing, especially at Bathurst.”
Now that the 22 year-old Sydney driver’s dalliance with ‘tin tops’ is over for the time being, he is looking forward to returning to openwheeler racing at the opening round of this year’s US Formula Star Mazda Championship at Sebring on March 19.
