Brown car withdrawn after 56g crash

Erebus Motorsport has withdrawn Will Brown from the Pukekohe finale following his heavy Race 28 crash.

Brown collided with Mark Winterbottom on the opening lap of Sunday’s first race.

The #9 Boost Mobile Commodore made heavy impact with the pit exit barrier.

Such was the impact, that a concrete barrier was dislodged, leading to a red flag.

Brown was taken to the medical centre and discharged shortly afterwards.

Winterbottom was handed a pit-lane penalty, and later reiterated that the clash wasn’t intentional.

Brown, however, believes Winterbottom deliberately escorted him off.

"Winterbottom and I had a bit of contact at the hairpin,” he said.

"Winterbottom wasn’t happy from the corner before and put me off,” Brown said on the broadcast.

"That was the biggest hit I’ve ever had.

"Some of them, you’re not too bothered about, but that was a pretty big hit.

"Going in at that speed, I knew I was screwed, going to hit the side of wall.

"I got out of the car, I was pretty badly winded. but I’m feeling alright now. Just a bit sore on my left side."

Brown was later involved in a heated discussion with Winterbottom in the Erebus garages.

Erebus could be forced to revert Brown to the team's spare chassis for the Repco Bathurst 1000.

That could have implications on Bathurst, given that chassis is set to be used for the Greg Murphy/Richie Stanaway wildcard.

Brown said: "It’s rooted. It’s done. We’ve rooted a Supercar.

"Hopefully we get another one sorted for Bathurst."

TheITM Auckland SuperSprint will conclude with Race 29 at 4:10pm local time/2:10pm AEST.