Dramatic scenes unfolded in the Gold Coast 500 on Sunday afternoon as a huge crash involving eight cars unfolded during the first lap of the race.
It came as Brodie Kostecki backed up his Bathurst 1000 win by clinching yet another title on the Surfers Paradise streets.
The incident took place on turn 11 at the aptly named Breaker Street with Anton De Pasquale being forced out of the race.
Nearly half of the field was involved in the huge crash, with a safety car being immediately issued.
De Pasquale had appeared to nudge Walkinshaw Andretti United driver Ryan Wood coming into the turn.
Wood subsequently lost control of his car and drove straight into a barrier on the right side of the corner.
De Pasquale subsequently spun into an oncoming queue of cars making their way around the bend.
James Courtney was the first to arrive, with the Blanchard Racing Team driver ploughing straight into the side of De Pasquale’s Shell car, smashing him into the barrier on the left side of the track with some force.
Courtney’s bonnet appeared to cop some damage in the crash, with a train of cars behind them all being caught up in the crash.
Thankfully it appears nobody was seriously hurt in the incident, with all but De Pasquale being able to continue with slight cosmetic damage to their cars.
‘I got down in there and I think Woody was having half a moment with Anton in front of me, Stanaway, and we were all sort of there.
‘I could see it all happening so I tried to stop, and I had 12 cars in the back of me trying to push me through the accident,’ Courtney said.
‘It’s really disappointing, we’ve come a long way, had some good car speed this weekend, and it looks like we might be home earlier than we thought.’
Commentator Neil Crompton was left stunned by the crash.
‘There’s the usual drama on Breaker Street and we’ve got carmageddon out of turn 11, and the safety car will fly — what a catastrophe,’ Crompton said to Channel Seven.
An eight-car pile up unfolded in the Gold Coast 500 on Sunday afternoon
Anton De Pasquale was forced out of the race after his car spun on the track and smashed into the wall
‘One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight cars involved.
‘Now, Ryan Wood nudged into the Hino barriers, and then I saw one of the Shell cars and I think that was Will (Brown).
‘Unfortunately, all sorts of trouble here.’
Mark Skaife said: ‘Of all the aptly named streets on this layout, Breaker Street has got eight cars.’
Erebus driver Kostecki was largely unchallenged as he pulled off a masterclass drive on Sunday to convert pole position into his first Gold Coast win after avoiding carnage early in the race.
It is the reigning Supercars champion’s second race win of the season after dominating Mount Panorama with co-driver Todd Hazelwood earlier this month.
“Bathurst was a fairytale for us, and coming to this weekend we knew that we were going to be there or thereabouts,” Kostecki said.
“We showed up, still needed a few more fine tweaks but finally got the car back in the window today. It was a rocket.”
Series leader Brown prevailed over a cut-throat Feeney in a thrilling duel between the two Red Bulls to finish second and stay atop the standings.
Feeney remains Brown’s only opposition in the championship race but admits his chances for a maiden title are slim.
“I wish he (Brown) pulled over and let me through,” Feeney said.
“Every move around here comes with risk … I never had a good enough opportunity (to overtake).
“It’s a long shot going to Adelaide, but we’re still in the hunt.
“The pressure is a bit more off now.”
James Courtney had driven into the side of De Pasquale and incurred some minor damage to his bonnet
Commentator Neil Crompton was left stunned by the incident, calling it ‘carmageddon’
The incident occurred during the first lap as De Pasquale appeared to drive into the rear of Ryan Wood
After winning Saturday’s race, Cam Waters tried to operate as a spoiler but fell short in fourth after sustaining damage to the front of his Tickford Mustang.
Chaz Mostert, then fifth, was forced to return to the pits to re-fuel after an error in his last visit and was made to settle for 11th place.
With only 300 points available in the final round in Adelaide, Mostert and Waters will be unable to close the gap to Brown.