MARSHALLING at the annual Abingdon Motorsports CAR-nival is being reviewed after a rally car left the track, seriously injuring two people at the weekend.
Barry Guess, organiser of the 13th event at Dalton Barracks, apologised for the disruption caused after a car lost control, left the circuit and ploughed into two marshalls and a cameraman on Sunday.
A 60-year-old man from Yateley, in Hampshire, an 18-year-old from Camberley, Surrey, and a 22-year-old from High Wycombe, were taken to hospital.
Mr Guess said: “I am very sorry the event did not go as planned, and my thoughts are with the people concerned.
“We have been keeping in close contact, constantly checking their conditions.”
He said there had been no problems with the positions of marshalls over the previous 12 events, but they were being examined closely in the wake of the accident.
He said: “I have to look at exactly where their posts were before I can make a judgement call and implement anything that needs to be done in time for next year.”
The driver of the red and white Ford Escort Cosworth and his co-driver were treated for shock after the incident, which happened at about 9.25am.
The 22-year-old was released from the John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, a few hours after the accident, and was able to attend the evening awards ceremony.
Police said yesterday that the other two people injured were in a serious but stable condition in hospital.
The two-day CAR-nival attracted about 1,000 visitors.
Mr Guess said: “The spectators were aware of what was going on, but were confined to a controlled area and were almost fenced in.
“We plan for these things and hope they never happen, but unfortunately it did.”
The event, which was organised by Abingdon Motorsport, was raising funds for two charities — Stowford House, near Shippon, which provides long-term care for people with learning difficulties, and the Army Benevolent Fund — committed to the welfare of Army and ex-Army personnel and their families.
Mr Guess said: “We will have raised somewhere between £10,000 and £15,000.
“With the exception of the incident all other aspects ran perfectly.”
The Vale of White Horse District Council, which is conducting an inquiry into the incident, said last night that the investigation was at a very early stage.
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