Supercars dragracer Kelvin Lyle in hospital after Nitro Up North crash

A late night drag race led to a competitor being rushed to hospital with critical injuries after a high-speed crash at the 2023 Darwin Supercars.

A dragrace competitor is in hospital with critical injuries after his vehicle clipped a wall and failed to deploy its safety parachute, sending the driver straight into the end barrier at 250km/hr.

Northern Watch Commander Senior Sergeant Brendan Molloy said the crash happened about 10.50pm Saturday night during the Supercars weekend.

“Emergency services were notified that a competitor in the Nitro Up North drag-racing meeting at the Hidden Valley Motor Sports Complex had been involved in a high-speed crash,” he said.

“Dragracer Kelvin Lyle was competing in the final Top Doorslammer race of the evening, after completing his run his vehicle clipped a wall.

Can't find anything on Social Media. But pretty sure Top Doorslammer ended in a very bad accident at Hidden Valley for Nitro Up North. Off the end of the straight with no shute. Busses being diverted away from T1. All racing cancelled. Security ushering people out of the track.

— The Phantom Thief (@NBlaze53) June 17, 2023

“The vehicle safety parachute failed to deploy, resulting in the vehicle over running the drag strip through the gravel safety pit and crashing into the end of tyre barrier at around 250km/hr with the driver sustaining serious injuries.”

Senior Sergeant Molloy said police believed Lyle sustained injuries to his legs and pelvis, as well as a possible head injury.

“The driver was extricated from the vehicle with the assistance of St John Ambulance paramedic officers and the event safety officers and marshalls,” Senior Sergeant Molloy said.

Dragracer Kelvin Lyle has been taken to Royal Darwin Hospital with serious injuries after his vehicle clipped a wall and failed to deploy its safety parachute, resulting in a nasty high speed crash. Picture: Kayo / Fox Sports

“(He was) subsequently conveyed to the Royal Darwin Hospital.

“Darwin traffic operation crash investigators and crime detectives attended with the vehicle being seized for inspection with the matter now under investigation as to the reasons for the non-deployment of the safety parachute.

A car fire in Car #6 that Cam Waters walked away from at the Darwin Supercars. Picture: Supplied

“The driver is receiving treatment at Royal Darwin Hospital and is currently listed in serious condition.”

An NT Health spokeswoman said on Sunday morning the 55-year-old man remained in hospital in a critical condition.

The crash came just hours after Ford star Cameron Waters had to flee his vehicle after in went up in flames in Race 13 of the betr Darwin Triple Crown.

The 2023 Darwin Supercars comes to a conclusion on Sunday with the final two races of the Darwin Triple Crown to be held.