BTCC crash video: Cameraman escapes unhurt after Hunter Abbott's Chevrolet flips into camera tower

Hunter Abbott's first-lap accident saw him barrel roll over the barrier at Snetterton

Jack de Menezes
Sunday 31 July 2016 12:49 EDT
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Hunter Abbott's Chevrolet Cruse flips into a TV tower during the BTCC race three at Snetterton
Hunter Abbott's Chevrolet Cruse flips into a TV tower during the BTCC race three at Snetterton (ITV 4)

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The third race of the British Touring Car Championship at Snetterton was red flagged after the Chevrolet of Hunter Abbott launched into the air and cartwheeled into a camera tower, with a cameraman lucky to escape unhurt.

The sixth meeting of the British Tour Car Championship had already been delayed due to a big accident in the day’s second race, but the third started with a multi-car crash that resulted in a heart-stopping moment for those watching at the track as well as hundreds of thousands at home on ITV 4.

A collision at the rear of the field involving Mark Howard’s Volkswagon CC and Alex Martin’s Ford Focus sent cars in all directions to try and avoid the accident on the starting grid, with Abbott and the Audi of Ollie Jackson unable to move out of the way in time.

Abbott’s Chevrolet Cruze hit the side of Howard’s Volkswagen and immediately launched into the air and pitched into a barrel roll 12 ft off the ground. The Chevrolet flipped over twice before hitting and riding over the barrier, crashing into the scaffolding where an ITV cameraman was stood. As Abbott hit the tower, Jackson’s Audi ploughed into the airborne Chevrolet.

The tower toppled over, although ITV confirmed that the cameraman, Phil White, was shaken but conscious and unhurt, having held onto the side of the tower until it hit the ground.

Watch the video below...

The race was stopped immediately and barrier repairs carried out as the clean-up crews removed the stricken cars, with a restart getting underway shortly before 18:00.

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