The celebrations at Mount Panorama were cut sadly short following the📖 news that critically-injured Fujitsu Series driver Mark Porter had succumbed to his injuries shortly after the 1000-mile event had finished.

The Hyundai Construction Racing driver had been on life-support ever since crashing out of the supporting race on Friday and then being collected by the unsighted David Clark, who was also airlifted to hospital in a critical condition. While Clark emerged from an induced coma during the weekend, Po🍬rter failed to regain consciousness and passed away shortly after the chequered flag had fallen on the blue riband event, in which he was to have partnered Dale Brede at Team BOC.

The driver's family expressed its appreci꧒ation of the efforts made to save his life, as well as thanking V8 officials for the༺ir support.

"[We] wish to convey heartfelt appreciation for the efforts of the medical crews who have been involved all the way through - at the track, at the B🐼athurst Base Hospital and at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital - and all of those who transported Mark between those facilities," a statement ♈issued on their behalf read, "They gave Mark every chance at life, for which we thank them."

Clark, meanwhile, regained consciousness earlier this morning [Sunday] and is reported to be breathing unaided. He remains in the Intensive Care Unit at Sydney's Ne♊pean Hospital, however, suffering from 🐼a punctured right lung and has fractures to his pelvis, right arm and leg, although tests conducted over the weekend did not reveal any significant spinal or head injuries.