February 14, 2010
Co-driver's early race crash stymies Daniel's Bathurst 12-hour chances
Daniel Erickson prepares for raceday action in the Morcom Motorsport pitlane garage before the 6.30am start. Unfortunately he didn't get to drive a racing lap in the 12-hour enduro. Photo courtesy of mpix Photography.
Daniel Erickson's promising production touring car debut in today's Bathurst 12-Hour race ended before he had the chance to put his helmet on. The marathon was barely 10 minutes old when one of Daniel's co-drivers crashed the Morcom Motorsport BMW 335i heavily, putting it out of the race instantly.
The young Sydneysider had been eyeing a potential podium result in his first competitive appearance at Mount Panorama after setting the fastest qualifying lap of the car's three drivers. However, with rain likely for the 6.30am start, team owner Barry Morcom took the wheel for the first driving stint due to his greater experience in slippery conditions.
On lap five, Morcom lost control through the high-speed McPhillamy Park corner, and the turbocharged BMW slammed into the concrete safety barrier on the inside of the circuit. The Campbelltown businessman was uninjured in the crash, but his car was damaged irreparably.
Ironically, the only other BMW 335i competing in the Bathurst 12-hour, driven by former V8 Supercar aces John Bowe and Paul Morris and Eastern Creek Karting Raceway director Garry Holt, went on to win the event.
"Obviously I'm disappointed not to have driven in the race, but there are no guarantees in motorsport," Daniel said. "Through no fault of your own you can be out on the first lap or the last lap, whether it's a sprint or an enduro.
"The most important thing is that Barry's okay. Cars can be replaced but people can't."
Daniel took some consolation from his qualifying performance, in which he qualified the potent coupe fastest of the team's three co-drivers after only a handful of laps. It was his first race meeting in a production racing touring car, and his first appearance on the world famous 6.3km public road circuit.
"I hadn't expected to be faster than my co-drivers, who both have a lot of experience in this type of racing, especially at Bathurst," Daniel said.
With his 'tin top' dalliance over for the time being, Daniel is looking forward to returning to international openwheeler racing at the first round of this year's US Formula Star Mazda Championship at Sebring on March 19.
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