John Mansell's Fatal Crash @ Targa Tasmania 2013 (Aftermath)
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An elderly Tasmanian competitor who lived in Thornton, Newcastle, state of New South Wales, Australia, died in a fiery crash while taking part in the 22nd edition of the Targa Tasmania - The Ultimate Tarmac Rally, held from 17 to 21 April 2013.
John Mansell, 71-year-old, was fatally injured when he lost control of his red Porsche Cayman #933, while travelling at speeds of up to 200 km/h. The accident happened at about 09h15 on Wednesday, 17 April 2013, less than four kilometers after the start of the first competitive stage of the five-day rally. The car went over a high-speed crest and became airborne on Porters Bridge Road, near the small village of Exton, Deloraine, west of Launceston, northern Tasmania. It ploughed through some small trees on the right side of the damp narrow road, before crashing hard into a gum tree, bursting into flames on impact.
John Mansell died at the scene, his car badly damaged. The place of accident was reached in a matter of seconds by rescuers, including fellow competitors who parked their race cars and came to help. They emptied their fire extinguisher onto the burning Porsche before being joined by an ambulance crew, but doctors could do nothing to save Mansell's life.
A native of Launceston, John Mansell was a veteran Targa racer, well known in Tasmanian motorsport circles for taking part in Targa Wrest Point and non-competitive Porsche tours. His 26-year-old co-driver Tristan Catford, who sustained severe neck injuries and a suspected broken pelvis, was taken to Launceston General Hospital.
After the accident, the opening stage of the rally was immediately stopped, but the event moved on to the next stage and the competition resumed. Organised by Octagon and sanctioned by the Confederation of Australian Motor Sport the Targa Tasmania - The Ultimate Tarmac Rally, a classic event in the style of the Mille Miglia, Coupe des Alpes and the Tour de Corse, was part of the four-round 2012-2013 Australian Targa Championship, which comprised Targa Adelaide in South Australia, Targa High Country in the state of Victoria and Targa Wrest Point in Hobart, Tasmania. The rallies were reserved to classic, historic and modern GT and sportscars, divided into fourteen different classes.
This was reported to be the second fatality in the Targa Tasmania since the rally began in 1992. Co-driver Ian Johnston lost his life during the Riana stage in northwestern Tasmania, in 1996. But there have been several other fatal accidents in the Australian Targa Championship races, throughout Australia, most notably when the international racing legend Peter Brock was killed in Western Australia on 08 September 2006.
R.I.P
John Mansell, 71-year-old, was fatally injured when he lost control of his red Porsche Cayman #933, while travelling at speeds of up to 200 km/h. The accident happened at about 09h15 on Wednesday, 17 April 2013, less than four kilometers after the start of the first competitive stage of the five-day rally. The car went over a high-speed crest and became airborne on Porters Bridge Road, near the small village of Exton, Deloraine, west of Launceston, northern Tasmania. It ploughed through some small trees on the right side of the damp narrow road, before crashing hard into a gum tree, bursting into flames on impact.
John Mansell died at the scene, his car badly damaged. The place of accident was reached in a matter of seconds by rescuers, including fellow competitors who parked their race cars and came to help. They emptied their fire extinguisher onto the burning Porsche before being joined by an ambulance crew, but doctors could do nothing to save Mansell's life.
A native of Launceston, John Mansell was a veteran Targa racer, well known in Tasmanian motorsport circles for taking part in Targa Wrest Point and non-competitive Porsche tours. His 26-year-old co-driver Tristan Catford, who sustained severe neck injuries and a suspected broken pelvis, was taken to Launceston General Hospital.
After the accident, the opening stage of the rally was immediately stopped, but the event moved on to the next stage and the competition resumed. Organised by Octagon and sanctioned by the Confederation of Australian Motor Sport the Targa Tasmania - The Ultimate Tarmac Rally, a classic event in the style of the Mille Miglia, Coupe des Alpes and the Tour de Corse, was part of the four-round 2012-2013 Australian Targa Championship, which comprised Targa Adelaide in South Australia, Targa High Country in the state of Victoria and Targa Wrest Point in Hobart, Tasmania. The rallies were reserved to classic, historic and modern GT and sportscars, divided into fourteen different classes.
This was reported to be the second fatality in the Targa Tasmania since the rally began in 1992. Co-driver Ian Johnston lost his life during the Riana stage in northwestern Tasmania, in 1996. But there have been several other fatal accidents in the Australian Targa Championship races, throughout Australia, most notably when the international racing legend Peter Brock was killed in Western Australia on 08 September 2006.
R.I.P