Saturdays season-opening British GT race was marred by an incident described by onlookers as ‘probably the worst accident seen’.

All six planned Ginetta G50s started the British GT (GT4 category) race at Oulton Park. Although Rob Austin Racing had entered a car to be driven by team owner Rob Austin, his co-pilot Hunter Abbott was a last-minute addition to the Team.

Arriving late to take the grid, Abbott had to make the start from the pit lane and work his way through the field.

However, fifteen minutes into the race, according to witnesses Abbott passed Chad Racing’s Aston Martin N24 at Old Hall. Moving across to the left side of the circuit to take the racing line for Cascades, Abbott made contact with the Aston.

The white Rob Austin Racing Ginetta G50 car shot across the grass and hit the armco head-on which launched the car into the air – up over a tyre wall and barrel-rolled multiple times for a further 50 yards before landing upside down and catching alight.

Fortunately Abbott emerged from the ruined car after a few seconds; stood up and walked to a waiting ambulance for a check-up – giving the cheering crowd a wave.

“It doesn’t get any worse than that” said one marshall. “He’s lucky to be alive – never mind to walk away from it.”

Initial fears were that Abbott would have been knocked unconscious.

“What has occurred here has sent shivers down everyones spines” said Ginetta Chairman Lawrence Tomlinson who was at the circuit at the time. “We over-engineered the strength of the G50 chassis and rollcage during the design stage and thank goodness for Hunter we did.

“The chassis had been crash tested using computer simulation but never do you anticipate such a multiple impact as this. Most things are tested for one big hit but this is a real testament to a G50s strength.”

Ginetta and Rob Austin Racing would like to express their gratitude to the marshals that helped extinguish the fire so rapidly and tend to Hunter.

"It was the first race in the car which the team only got on Monday and the team did a great job to get it ready" said Abbott afterwards. "I don’t know how many cars on the grid would have stood up to the accident like that Ginetta G50 did. That chassis was so strong, I am so glad that I was in that car. That chassis was strong enough to keep me conscious and make sure I am standing here."

The chassis, designed by Ginetta's Marcos Lameirao and Simon Finnis had previously been crash tested to GT2 standards and results came out twelve times the minimum required figure which made the car able to withstand the multiple impacts with the ground and inside of the tyre wall.

Easter Sunday’s circuit ‘down time’ for Rob Austin’s team was spent converting one of his G50 Cup cars into a GT4 car so he and Hunter could try and enter the British GT race on Monday but as it didn't have the homologated 'quick fuel filler' system, was not eligible to race.

There is a video shot by spectator Aaron on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o5t_477Ak98