Motorsport Australia defends response to Perkins fire

Jack Perkins’ Holden Commodore sustained heavy entrance-pause distress for the interval of the hole Super2 flee in Townsville, prior to a hearth took bewitch in the engine bay of the stricken car.

It took a truly broad time for marshals armed with fire extinguishers to come on the scene.

Whereas what became perceived to be a slack response raised eyebrows at the time, Motorsport Australia has since reviewed the speak and defended the actions of its officials.

The governing body says the auto became awkwardly positioned in phrases of access, while additionally claiming Perkins failed to activate the on-board fire extinguisher.

“Motorsport Australia has reviewed the instances of the auto fire and the fire response though-provoking Jack Perkins’ Commodore, Car 88, in the Dunlop Series (Super2/Super3) flee on Saturday,” read an announcement from Motorsport Australia.

“Car 88 stopped at an infield access gate no longer ragged or manned for the interval of competition and it is miles rarely a marshal’s put up. As such, there had been no fire extinguishers accessible at this level.

“There became a marshal put up approximately 60 metres from this incident on the various aspect of the circuit. It’s a ways a effectively-established protocol that our officials can no longer atrocious a ‘sizzling song’ till given approval from flee administration as soon as it is miles stable to develop so. On this case, the barrier became on the song edge making access potentially hazardous at that time.

“A fire response car became additionally positioned 800 metres from the incident at Flip 2 and reached car 88 within 41 seconds of being scrambled by flee administration.

“For context, there had been 19 signed marshal posts all the draw in which by draw of the Reid Park circuit, all of which like three fire extinguishers accessible at each and each. Given the length of the song, this averages out to a marshal put up with extinguishers approximately each and each 150 metres. There had been additionally several fire response autos positioned all the draw in which by draw of the circuit.

“As with all autos competing in the Dunlop Series, Car 88 became additionally fitted with a hearth extinguisher in the engine bay to be used on fires a lot like this. On this occasion, it became no longer activated by the motive force.

“We are able to make certain all opponents are reminded about the a total lot of hearth safety procedures for future events, including the lifting of bonnets which would possibly abolish better the fire distress.

“Circuit safety is our paramount responsibility, and while no one likes to explore a car on fire we must make certain our opponents and responding volunteer marshals’ safety is our no 1 precedence.”