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AAP
AAP
Sport
Fraser Barton

Crash ends Bathurst 12-hour practice session

Driver Keith Kassulke walked away from this high-speed crash at a Bathurst 12-Hour practice session. (PR HANDOUT IMAGE PHOTO) (AAP)

A high-speed crash involving race driver Keith Kassulke has curtailed Friday's final Bathurst 12-Hour practice session after his car smashed into the tyre barriers.

Kassulke's MARC II V8 was left upside down after exiting the Mount Panorama track at The Chase and careening into the barriers after the session's midway point.

In a statement, Supercars officials said Kassulke, who was taken to the medical centre for checks, was "was conscious throughout, communicating with the recovery teams and suffered no major injuries".

"The session was red flagged and was not restarted due to the damage caused to the tyre wall following the impact," they said.

Kassulke's car had approached the corner at speed after the Conrod straight and went over the apex, propelling all four wheels off the ground, and into the sand trap before hitting the tyre wall.

With significant damage done to the safety barrier, Friday's session was not restarted.

The early finish meant Raffaele Marciello ended Friday on top of the time sheets.

Marciello's 2:03.9958s in the GruppeM Mercedes-AMG proved the best, with Jules Gounon (Mercedes-AMG) and Mathieu Jaminet (Porsche) second and third respectively.

Earlier on Friday, two-time Bathurst winner Chaz Mostert and Moto GP legend Valentino Rossi topped the opening two practice sessions before defending champion Kenny Habul headed the third.

Drivers have two more practice sessions on Saturday followed by qualifying and top-10 shootouts, before Sunday's race.

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