Brad Jones Racing co-driver Declan Fraser was left devastated on the eve of the Bathurst 1000 after he “lost everything” he owned in a house fire.
On Sunday morning, it was revealed the 24-year-old’s Gold Coast home had been torn down in a fire that destroyed all his possessions, including trophies from his racing career. According to local reports, nobody was harmed in the blaze.
Co-driver Andre Heimgartner was competing in the top 10 shootout at Moutn Panorama on Saturday afternoon when the fire occurred.
“The clothes that he’s got, in other words that race suit and the rest of the gear of Declan Fraser, is all he’s got,” former Australian racing driver Neil Crompton told Fox Motorsport on Sunday morning.
“That’s a pretty tough deal when you’re going into the Bathurst 1000.”
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Fraser, the 2022 Super2 Series winner, recently moved from Melbourne to the Gold Coast’s Hope Island.
“Yesterday when car No. 8 was out there, Andre Heimgartner doing his top 10 shootout, on the Gold Coast Declan Fraser’s house was burning down, quite literally,” Crompton continued.
“He’s lost everything.
“His dad spoke to me this morning.
“He’s asked because all his trophies are gone, he had success in Super 2, he’s asked how might we be able to be in a position to buy or replicate it.
“He hasn’t even got clothes.”
Heimgartner, driving Brad Jones Racing’s #8 R&J Batteries Chevrolet Camaro, dropped to tenth in the shootout after running wide on the opening turn.
Team boss Brad Jones was left with his head in his hands as the New Zealander ran into the sand.
“Feel like a bit of an idiot,” Heimgartner later told Fox Motorsport.
“You have to push it sometimes, but I just overstepped it.
“Messed up on my part.”
It’s been a tough 12 months for Fraser – despite having a multi-year contract, he was left without a Supercars ride for 2024 after Tickford Racing went from four cars to two following his rookie season with the team.
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