Rick Kelly still in Great Race

Two-time Bathurst Champion Rick Kelly has been thrown a lifeline to race in tomorrow’s 1000 kay Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000.

Kelly was booked to pilot the #15 HSV Dealer Team Commodore with Paul Radisich, but the team withdrew that car from the race following an accident in practice this morning with Radisich at the wheel.

Stewards have sanctioned Kelly, who won Bathurst in 2003 and 2004 with Greg Murphy, to move across to the #16 Autobarn Commodore for the Great Race with team mate Paul Dumbrell, who qualified the car eighth quickest yesterday.

Dumbrell’s original co-driver, David Reynolds, has been ill this weekend with a viral infection and has been on a saline drip and will not take part in tomorrow’s race.

The withdrawal of the #15 car means that the WOW Racing entry has been handed a second chance to participate in the Top 10 Shootout this afternoon, after qualifying 11th yesterday.

HSV Dealer Team’s Andrew Wenzel said Radisich had suffered injuries to both of his ankles during the accident, along with neck soreness.

“Paul’s condition includes one broken ankle (the right one) in two places,” he said.

Wenzel said it was not yet known whether an operation on Radisich’s ankle would take place at the Orange Base Hospital, where he is currently located, or in Sydney.

He confirmed the throttle had stuck while Radisich was approaching McPhillamy Park and said the car sustained damage including a twisted roll cage, bent front rail and a damaged pedal box.

“It’s too big a job to fix here and hopefully we’ll have the (#16 Commodore) chassis on its way to Melbourne by the end.”

Wenzel said the four chassis specialists had remained in Melbourne, where the team is based, this weekend.

The team members have a frantic job to rebuild the Commodore in time for the next round, the Gold Coast Indy, at Surfers Paradise in two weeks.