Motorist dies in single-car crash at Mount Panorama race circuit

A motorist has died after crashing his car on a public road that forms part of the Mount Panorama race circuit in Bathurst, believed to be the first non-racing-related fatality at the iconic venue.

In a media statement, the New South Wales Police Force announced emergency services were called following a single-car crash at approximately 9:50am on the morning of July 26.

Emergency services personnel arrived to find the male driver – believed to be in his 30s – had succumbed to injuries sustained in the crash. 

The vehicle reportedly crashed at the intersection of Mountain Straight and Hinton Road – also known as Hell Corner, the first turn of the Mount Panorama race track.

Chifley Police District officers have begun an investigation into the incident and will prepare a report for the coroner.

While the Mount Panorama Circuit is most famous for hosting the annual Bathurst 1000 V8 Supercars race – as well as the Bathurst 12 Hour and 6 Hour events – it is a two-way public road for all but five weeks of the year.

Despite being open to the public, the iconic track has a posted speed limit of 60km/h – well down on the near-300km/h speeds achieved by V8 Supercars drivers – and is regularly monitored by Highway Patrol officers.

Since the circuit opened in 1938, 15 racing competitors and two spectators have died as a result of crashes, the most recent of which was in 2006 when Mark Porter – a driver in the second-tier V8 Supercars development series – was involved in a multi-car incident at the top of the mountain.

As of July 26, 201 people have died on New South Wales roads in 2023 – representing a 25 per cent increase over the 160 road users killed in the same period last year.

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