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Driver stretchered off Mount Panorama after massive crash at Bathurst

Matthew MacKelden, pictured here after suffering a heavy crash at Bathurst.
Matthew MacKelden suffered a heavy crash at Bathurst. Image: Fox Sports

Matthew MacKelden was taken from Mount Panorama on a stretcher after a massive crash at Bathurst on Saturday.

MacKelden was taking part in Race 3 during the Supercars support series on Saturday when he suffered a heavy smash.

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The driver lost control of his Ford Mustang on turn seven before colliding with a barrier.

MacKelden gave a thumbs up as he attempted to exit his mangled car.

However he was taken away on a stretcher and into an ambulance as a precaution.

Matthew MacKelden, pictured here in action at Bathurst.
Matthew MacKelden had to be taken from Mount Panorama on a stretcher. Image: Fox Sports

"That's gone around. That's facing the wrong direction," Greg Rust said in commentary.

Co-commentator Chris Stubbs added: "It's just the transition of the weight, isn't it?"

"Just too far to the left and onto the ripple strips which unsettles the balance of the back of the car and sends him across to the other side of the wall."

It was a brutal end to MacKelden's weekend after a previous crash.

The build-up to Sunday's Bathurst 1000 has been littered with crashes, with GT driver Peter Hackett becoming the latest victim on Friday.

Chris Pither also crashed during Supercars practice, while support category drivers Nash Morris and Angelo Mouzouris also endured heavy smashes.

Jamie Whincup misses Bathurst shootout

Meanwhile, retiring legend Jamie Whincup has missed out on the Bathurst 1000 top-10 shootout after a dramatic first qualifying session on Friday.

Rookie Will Brown, who won his maiden Supercars race in Sydney last month, snatched provisional pole after pipping stars Anton De Pasquale and Chaz Mostert.

The top-three all produced scorching best laps under two minutes and four seconds in a quick session at Mount Panorama on Friday.

But Whincup will not take part in Saturday's top-10 shootout after finishing 11th, with Tim Slade knocking the Red Bull Ampol great out in the dying stages.

It is just the fourth time the seven-time Supercars champion has finished outside the top-10 in qualifying for the Bathurst 1000 during his glittering career.

Sunday's Great Race will be Whincup's farewell as a full-time driver before he takes over as Triple Eight boss from Roland Dane.

Whincup is again teamed up with fellow Supercars great Craig Lowndes, with the pair famously claiming a Bathurst three-peat between 2006 and 2008.

"Not ideal at all," the seven-time champion said after qualifying.

"It won't change our approach, we'll still continue to do what we do.

"We've got a quick race car so we'll see what Sunday throws at us."

with AAP

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