Australian TV Star Grant Denyer Faces Mounting Pressure Over Bathurst Crash Comments
Australian television personality and motorsport driver Grant Denyer is confronting escalating backlash after he doubled down on his account of a high-speed collision at the Bathurst 6 Hour event, which left a rival driver with a broken spine and severe injuries. The controversy has deepened in the days following Denyer's characterisation of the crash as 'very minor' and 'just a small scrape', remarks that have ignited widespread outrage given the gravity of the injuries sustained by fellow competitor Richard Barram.
The Incident at Griffins Bend Under Double Yellow Flags
The crash occurred at Griffins Bend during the Bathurst 6 Hour race when Denyer attempted to overtake Barram while the track was under double waved yellow flag conditions. In motorsport, double yellow flags strictly prohibit overtaking and require drivers to slow down and prepare to stop. Denyer's Chevrolet Camaro made contact with Barram's Volkswagen Scirocco, propelling Barram into a stationary car and resulting in both vehicles being extensively damaged.
While Denyer escaped with only minor injuries and was discharged from hospital after mandatory precautionary checks, Barram was far less fortunate. He suffered a fractured vertebra, multiple broken ribs, and a severely damaged foot that will necessitate reconstructive surgery. His team has cautioned that he faces a prolonged and challenging recovery period.
Denyer's Initial Remarks Spark Immediate Outrage
Denyer's initial comments quickly became the focal point of the growing controversy. In a social media post, he stated, 'Just wanted to let you know I'm A OK … I was only in hospital for an hour, and that was only for compulsory checks, as part of the regulations.' He further described the incident, saying, 'It (the crash) was very minor, it (the damage) was just a small scrape. Someone just tagged my car, trying to avoid another parked car, and they just spat us both into the wall.'
These remarks were met with immediate anger from Barram's camp. Co-driver James Hay accused Denyer of downplaying a serious and avoidable incident, stating, 'Our driver Richard Barram was struck by Grant Denyer's vehicle in a zone under double waved yellow flags – a sector requiring all drivers to slow and prepare to stop. The collision was not a racing incident. It was avoidable.' Hay added, 'We are deeply disappointed that he would minimise a serious incident on social media and deflect responsibility while Richard is still recovering.'
Denyer's Detailed Explanation and Hospital Visit
As criticism mounted, Denyer issued a more detailed explanation, insisting he did not see the yellow flags at the time of the crash. He claimed his line of sight was obstructed while attempting to pass two slower cars and asserted there was no radio warning about the conditions ahead. Denyer elaborated, 'As I was on my approach to Turn 2 on the right-hand side of the track, I was seeking to pass two slower class cars. As a result, I had no line of sight to the flag point on the left. I was focused on the braking point and clearing the two cars safely and could not see the yellow flags to the left – it was completely unsighted.'
He continued, 'There was no radio call advising of double yellows or a stopped car ahead and, as I came into Turn 2, I observed a waved green flag above the parked vehicle, indicating a return to normal racing conditions. At that point, Richard appeared to move to the right also, I believe to avoid the stopped car on the left, not expecting me to be there. Our cars made contact, which resulted in both of us being directed into the wall.'
In a conciliatory gesture, Denyer also revealed he had visited Barram in hospital, expressing that he was 'deeply saddened' to learn the full extent of his rival's injuries. However, this has done little to quell the ongoing furore surrounding his initial comments and the circumstances of the crash.
