BATHURST driver John Markwick found out firsthand just how hard Mount Panorama can bite on Saturday.
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Markwick was keen to tackle a full weekend of racing at his home track as part of the Bathurst 6 Hour support card, being part of the bumper 54-strong field in the Hyundai Excel series.
However, he did not make it beyond lap two in the first of three races. Markwick was forced into an early exit after being caught up in an incident at Forrest's Elbow.
While he tried to repair his car before the final two races, it was too extensively damaged to get back out on track.
"Unfortunately you can't help what other people do on track, you just have to grin and bear it. It just really sucks when you get caught up in someone else's accident," Markwick said.
"The 152 car [Leon Bondarenko] hit the wall at Forrest's Elbow and just came out the front of me and took me out as I was going down the inside."
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After his Excel was transported to the pits on the back of a truck, his team looked at the damage and attempted to repair the #56 entry. However, they could not get it fixed in time.
"The crash wrecked the whole right side of the car, the guard, the right arm and the drive shaft," Markwick said.
Prior to the incident, Markwick was enjoying his time racing around the mountain after qualifying in 44th position on Friday.
"The car was going really well. I was making great progress, making up places. It was really good," Markwick said.
"It is awesome [racing here], or at least it was. It is always good fun running around the track, until it ends."
Due to the incident which involved Markwick and Bondarenko, race one was declared after three of the six scheduled laps with Asher Johnston claiming the win.
Jordan Caruso placed second and Michael Clemente third.
Later that evening following a delay due to another incident, race two was held in twilight conditions, with race control asking all drivers to turn their headlights on.
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Johnston continued his winning form with victory in that second race, while this time Clemente crossed the line ahead of Caruso in the battle for the minor placings.
The final race of the Bathurst round on Sunday morning was full of drama with several on track incidents, however nothing could stop South Australia's Johnston clean-sweeping the weekend.
He clocked a series race lap record of 2:52.700 to boot.
Clemente in car #1 again second position and Victoria's Nathan Blight scored his first podium for the weekend.