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Statement from V8 Supercars Australia |
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Monday, 25 February 2008 |
WAYNE CATTACH – CEO V8 SUPERCARS AUSTRALIA
“It was sad to learn
that Fujitsu V8 Supercar driver Ashley Cooper has passed away.
Ashley
fought a strong battle but sadly his injuries were too great.
Our greatest sympathies and all of our wishes are with Ashley’s family, in
particular his partner Casey and their two children Ella and Bailey.
As
a group we will do absolutely everything we can to support them at this time. I
visited Ashley’s parents and his partner Casey in hospital yesterday along with
Clipsal 500 Chief Executive Andrew Daniels and we will continue support them
along the rocky road ahead.
We ask that all members of the media respect
the privacy of the family and do not contact them at this time.
A full
and thorough inquiry into the accident will be conducted and led by CAMS.
We have had a preliminary look at the footage of the accident and from
what it appears his car may have clipped the guard rail on entry to the corner.
There is nothing that we can find that would indicate any failure of the seat,
his HANS device, the straps or the roll cage.
Our sport over-complies
with the highest FIA rules for closed cockpit racing and most of our teams
extend even beyond our own high standards with their own safety measures.
Certainly there have been accidents that would appear far more severe
than was the case here when drivers have walked away unscathed. Such is the
nature of motorsport.
We will not be making any further comment at this
time.”
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