Driver killed during Qld drag racing event

| January 7, 2023

A race car driver has been killed in a high-speed crash at an event west of Brisbane.

Drag racer Sam Fenech suffered fatal injuries after his vehicle left the track at Willowbank Raceway in Ipswich just before 7pm on Saturday and crashed into a camera tower.

“It is with great sadness that Top Fuel Racing Australia announces that Sam Fenech, driver of the Fabietti Racing Doorslammer, has succumbed to injuries suffered in a racing accident at Willowbank Raceway and passed away this evening,” said a statement on Willowbank Raceway’s Facebook page.

“We send our love and support to the Fenech family and the whole team at Fabietti Racing.”

Police said a camera operator was taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Queensland Ambulance Service said the patient was in a stable condition.

The accident occurred during Willowbank’s New Year Nitro drag racing event.

Queensland Police’s forensic crash unit is working with Workplace Health and Safety to investigate, and people are being asked to avoid Champions Way, where the racetrack is.