It was the spectacular ANDRA Championship Top Fuel final when Martin Stamatis secured the winners trophy, running a 4.6 second pass at over 520kmh, defeating Australian Champion and team mate Phil Read, when suddenly one of the large rear tyres exploded, tearing the Fastlane Software Top Fuel Dragster in half.

The car came to a halt in the gravel trap at the end of the Western Sydney Dragway track, and remarkably – Martin Stamatis’ only injury from the 520kmh incident was a twisted ankle climbing out of the car onto the soft gravel ground.

Phil Read didn’t escape from the drama either…

“Imagine being in a hailstorm but a hundred times worse,” shrugged Read as he saw his team-mate explode in a shower of sparks and debris just in front of him.

“I ended up ducking for cover as brake callipers and other debris pelted my car. There are numerous big holes in the bodywork of my car and in fact the header pipes have been clean torn off one side of the motor as well.”

Amazingly, Martin Stamatis is confident of returning for the next round of the Championship in June at Willowbank Raceway in Queensland for the season-ending Winternationals.

“It is a tribute to the safety gear in these Top Fuel cars as mandated by ANDRA (governing body)”, recalled the West Aussie.

“It does appear to be a tyre failure which does happen from time to time in this sport. It is brutal to try and harness 7,000 horsepower to run 4–seconds from a standing quarter mile start. It’s a big setback as the Fastlane Software car is now destroyed, but we will be back.”

YouTube video below!