Golding brushes off Bathurst crash

Young rookie James Golding says he is physically and mentally fine after his second crash in two outings in his Volvo Supercar.

The 20-year old hit the wall ‘under the tree’ in his first session behind the wheel of the main game car at the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000.

He topped the Dunlop Series session this morning before the co-driver Supercars run.

Golding slammed into the wall in the same spot that caught Greg Murphy and Chaz Mostert in 2013, damaging the S60 he shares with James Moffat.

However, he was hopeful of a good showing this weekend with James Moffat, with plenty of laps before the big race, and that his team would get the car out for the end of practice three starting at 3.15pm today.

The young gun spoke to supercars.com after the accident as his Garry Rogers Motorsport team worked on the car.

“All good, no injury, so I’m feeling fine,” Golding said.

“There is a fair bit of damage to the left hand side but it’s still not that bad that it won’t be back out, so they are working flat out now to get it done, so hopefully we can get it back out for a few laps at the next practice session.

“The rear slid out and then it hit the wall and then the front grabbed as well, so it’s just one of those things, you know. It happened really quick and once it’s gone it’s gone and you can’t save it.

“A bit of a shame but will move on.”

The driver they call ‘Bieber’ was philosophical about the accident, in a spot that has tripped up some of the greats. He was running 10th before the crash, with Paul Dumbrell topping the session.

“Things like this happen. It’s Bathurst, it’s claimed a lot of drivers – unfortunately this is the first time it bit me.

“We’ll rebuild and hopefully get some good laps in qualifying, which you’ve always got to do a fantastic job in.

“I can’t wait to get stuck into the race at my first Bathurst.

“This track is so tight and you are going so fast too so just a little mistake and you’re offline but other tracks you might be able to save it but here you’re straight in the wall.

“A bit unfortunate but learn from it and hopefully it doesn’t happen again soon.”