Murray accepts disqualification over McLeod rollover

Cooper Murray and Eggleston Motorsport have accepted a reckless driving charge over his role in the Cameron McLeod rollover in Perth, with Murray disqualified from Race 2.

McLeod was sent into a series of dramatic rolls late in Sunday's race after contact from Murray down the back straight at CARCO.com.au Raceway.

The Super2 rookie walked away from the frightening incident, with his #92 Commodore sustaining heavy damage. The race was red-flagged, with McLeod reclassified in third, three positions ahead of Murray.

A hearing into the crash commenced after the race on Sunday, and was later adjourned at the request of Eggleston Motorsport.

The initial stewards' report reads: "A Hearing was commenced and adjourned following a report from the Race Director involving contact between Car 88 Cooper Murray and Car 92 Cameron McLeod, after the exit of Turn 6 on lap 15 causing a Red Flag. The Stewards were satisfied that Car 88 Cooper Murray, has a case to answer - an alleged breach of Schedule B2, Code of Driving Code – Driving 3.9. Eggleston Motorsport sought an adjournment to enable them to properly prepare a defence case."

Both drivers shared their views after the race, with Murray saying: “Obviously it’s unfortunate, you never want to see a car that wrecked... coming out of turn six I had overlap on Cameron, so going down the straight he started to squeeze me more and more to the right side of the track while I had the overlap.

“Then it got to a certain point where I couldn’t turn any more right and he kept turning. I’m a racer at heart, I’m not going to back out, and if I turn him then that’s what happens.”

In a bulletin provided by a Motorsport Australia spokesperson, the hearing reconvened on Wednesday morning, following a review into onboard judicial vision. Supercars.com released the judicial vision later on Wednesday afternoon.

The onboard vision from Murray's car, labelled "clear and conclusive," revealed contact was first made in the middle of McLeod's rear bumper by Murray's front left, before further contact was made by the front left the #88 to the right-hand rear corner the #92, causing it to leave the track.

The bulletin reads: "The adjourned Cooper Murray Hearing was reconvened at 1145hrs on Wednesday 22nd May 2024 by the Stewards, after the Race Director had been advised by the Eggleston Motorsport Authorised Representative Ben Eggleston, following their review of Car 88 on-board judicial vision, Cooper Murray is now in a position, and prepared to accept the breach.

"After receiving a duly signed Stewards Referral and Charge Notice from Cooper Murray’s admission to breach of Rule, Schedule B2 Code of Driving Conduct – Driving, Article 3.9 making avoidable contact to the rear of Car 92 Cameron McLeod and assessed as Reckless, as per Schedule B2, Article 2.1.2 of the 2024 Supercars Championship Operations Manual. The Stewards have impose the penalty of disqualification on Car 88 Cooper Murray, from the Race 2 Classifications.

"The on-board judicial camera vision from Car 88 is clear and conclusive with the first contact being into the middle of Car 92 rear bumper by the front left of Car 88. Further contact was made by the front left of Car 88 to the right-hand rear corner of Car 92 causing it to leave the track."

With Murray accepting the charge, points leader Kai Allen is promoted to second for the overall round standings, with Aaron Cameron third.

Murray will make his main game debut at the upcoming betr Darwin Triple Crown in a third Triple Eight Race Engineering Gen3 Camaro. The Darwin appearance comes ahead of his enduro starts alongside Craig Lowndes at the Penrite Oil Sandown 500 and Repco Bathurst 1000, with the duo set to test next week.

Murray will resume his Dunlop Series campaign at the NTI Townsville 500 on July 5-7.