Sandown 500: Toyota 86 driver John Iafolla taken to hospital in stable condition after spectacular crash

A young driver was lucky to walk away from a scary opening-lap crash that forced the Toyota 86 series race - which was the prelude to the V8 Supercars showdown at Sandown - to be abandoned.

Rebecca Williams

less than 2 min read

November 10, 2019 - 5:33PM

John Iafolla was lucky to walk away from this prang.

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A Toyota 86 series driver has been taken to hospital for observation after a frightening smash in the support category at the Sandown 500.

John Iafolla was lucky to walk away from the scary opening-lap crash that forced the race to be abandoned.

Iafolla rocketed off the track after clipping another car, skidding along the grass and slamming through a guard rail before rolling several times.

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John Iafolla of Sieders Racing crashed into a recovery vehicle. Picture: Ross Gibb

The airborne car then landed heavily on the back of a recovery ute before coming to a rest upside down.

Iafolla was able to walk from the car with assistance before being taken to the track medical centre.

Supercars medical delegate Dr Carl Le later reported Iafolla was in a stable condition with no serious injuries, but had been sent to hospital for observation.

John Iafolla’s car flips. Picture: Ross Gibb

The carnage continued in the showpiece event with Cameron Waters slamming a rival as “dumb’’ and “stupid’’ after a high-speed collision ended his Sandown hopes.

During a drama charged start to the 500km race that also saw Luke Youlden and Dale Wood involved in a heart stopping crash, Waters let loose on rookie driver Jake Kostecki after his co-driver Michael Caruso was put into a wall.