Aston Martin Vantage. Australian Rally Championship. Bad Day On The Stage

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We’re not crash-bang-wallop types at crankandpiston, as you know. We’re more impressed with close on-track competition and superlative driving skills than crumpled carbon fibres and ‘lol’ comments. Every so often though, something does catch our eye.

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The 2012 Australian Rally Championship season got underway last weekend with the Calder Rally in Victoria. Among the contenders were Ivan Thompson and Karl Francis, who at the end of the second day were running seventh in the 2WD category in their rally-spec Aston Martin Vantage.

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On the opening stage of the third day, however, the pair were involved in a violent accident when Thompson lost control on the wet grass. The Vantage barreled backwards at high speed into a solid concrete barrier, causing heavy damage.

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Francis suffered a dislocated pelvis but this was the extent of the pair’s injuries. Car owner Dave Thompson could not confirm whether the Vantage will complete the ARC season.

Our thanks to Joel Strickland for these amazing shots.