Ralf Aron gives an update after his accident at Bathurst

It was the defining image of the 2026 Bathurst 12 Hour. A series of incidents led to a violent crash involving race leader Ralf Aron, who collided with the Porsche Johannes Zelger's car was immobilized after a spin-out at the top of the mountain that trapped several cars.

Caught off guard in a blind section during a restart lap, Aron was unable to avoid the collision, bringing out the red flag—the first since 2018. Both drivers were able to get out of their vehicles on their own, with Aron hospitalized for tests and reported to be in stable condition. The Estonian driver provided an update on his condition via his Instagram account.

 

See this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by 🇪🇪 Ralf Aron (@aronralf)

« First of all, I would like to thank everyone for the incredible number of messages I have received. The support of the last few days has really meant a lot to me.

I would also like to extend my sincere thanks to the medical team present at the scene, who took care of me immediately after the incident. Their professionalism and rapid response made a huge difference.

Considering the circumstances, I am doing well and my condition is stable. I suffered two fractures in my back, but I retain full mobility and sensation throughout my body, for which I am very grateful. I am also very happy to see that Johannes Zelger was able to escape the accident unharmed.

I have raced on numerous street circuits around the world, including Macau, Pau, the Norisring, and even demanding tracks like the Nordschleife. I have a great deal of experience in these environments and understand the risks involved in this type of racing. The situation at Bathurst was serious, and that is why I would like to arrange a meeting and an open discussion with race management to share my experience and perspective. This is not about assigning blame, but about understanding what happened and ensuring that we can avoid this kind of situation in the future, so that racing on this magnificent circuit is as safe as possible for everyone.

I'm going to work very hard to get back behind the wheel as soon as possible and, hopefully, try my luck again on the mountain next year!

I would also like to thank Mercedes Benz-AMG for building such a strong car and for the protection they offered me, allowing me to get out on my own. Thank you also for all the support. A huge thank you to my Craft Bamboo Racing team and to my teammates Lucas Auer and Maximilian Goetz, who stayed by my side throughout this difficult situation.

My stay in Australia will be a little longer than expected, but I am very happy that my parents are flying in to be with me during this time. »

AUTOhebdo wishes Ralf Aron a speedy recovery.

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