V8 Supercar Development Series driver Ashley Coope꧅r has been ♉critically injured following an accident during the Clipsal 500 meeting in Adelaide.

The 27-year-old was taken to the Royal Adelaide Hospital for treatment for severe head trauma and internal injuries after going off on lap eleven of the second Fujitsu Series race, making ౠheavy contact with the wall on the passenger side of the car.

Cooper was attended to at the scene by chief medical officer, Dr R🍸oger Capps and V8 Supercar doctor, Dr Carl Lee, who had to perform an emergency traꦕcheotomy trackside in order to stabilise Cooper before he could be transported to hospital.

"꧃Both doctors are experts in trauma management and he was in the best possible hands," V8 Supercars Australi♔a CEO, Wayne Cattach said.

"The most bothering injury at this stage is the swelling of the brain. I understand there is no bleeding of the brain at this time, but it's been traumatised and ꧙is still critical in nature.

"Clearly these situations impact heavily on the motor sport family🅰 and as a group we will offer absolutely everything we can to support the family at this time.

"It's a fast corner, no question, but it meets all design requirements of the FIA and I have absolute confidence in the way t♊he barriers have been put together. It would be✨ premature to draw any conclusions yet because we don't know what caused the accident.

"This unfortunate accident will be the subject of a full and✃ thorough inquiry into the accident by CAMS."

Fellow Fujitsu series racer Colin Sieders meanwhile who witnessed - and was almost involved in - the tragic incident said the crash was biggest accid𒉰ent he has ever seen at tha🌞t point on the track.

"We were having a battle for the first part of the ൲race," said Colin. "It looked like he's just gone in too shallow and clipped the inside wall. He went in hard against the outside concrete and shifted the w🌊all back a good metre.

"The first I saw, Ashley ♛was skidding along the wall and the car was coming back across the track. I🔴 don't know how I didn't hit him.

"I've known since we've been racing against each other over the past year. I hope he's alriꦫght. It was the biggest accident I've seen at that point of the track. I want to pass on my best wishes to 𓆉Ashley and his family and friends."