Ralf Aron Suffers Back Fractures in Bathurst 12 Hour Crash, Calls for Safety Review

Mercedes-AMG driver Ralf Aron sustained two fractures to his back during a significant accident at the Meguiar’s Bathurst 12 Hour on February 15, 2026. The crash occurred with just over three and a half hours remaining in the race, when Aron’s #77 Craft-Bamboo Mercedes collided with the stationary Tsunami RT Porsche of Johannes Zelger.

Details of the Incident

Aron was leading after a Safety Car restart when he encountered Zelger’s Porsche, which had been spun by Kai Allen in another Mercedes-AMG, awkwardly positioned across the track at Forrest’s Elbow. Unable to react in time, Aron impacted the Porsche at high speed, resulting in substantial damage to both vehicles and a subsequent fire in his Mercedes. He was able to exit the car and move to safety before medical personnel arrived.

Aron’s Condition and Recovery

Following the crash, Aron was transported to Orange Hospital for assessment. He confirmed via social media that he suffered two back fractures but maintains full movement and sensation. He expressed gratitude to the medical team for their swift response and care. Source

Call for Safety Improvements

Aron emphasized the seriousness of the situation and has requested a discussion with race control to review the incident and explore preventative measures. He stated, “This is not about pointing fingers. It is about understanding what happened and making sure we can prevent situations like this in the future, so that racing at this elegant track can be as safe as possible for everyone.” Source

Concerns Over Flag Signals and Radio Communication

Questions have been raised regarding the timing of flag signals, with reports indicating that no flags were displayed at the second-to-last marshal post before the accident. Double yellow flags were only waved at the post immediately adjacent to the crashed vehicles. Aron experienced radio communication issues, further limiting his ability to avoid the collision.

Recurring Back Injuries within Mercedes-AMG Teams

This incident marks the seventh instance since 2022 where a Mercedes-AMG driver has sustained serious back injuries in a crash. Previous incidents include:

• May 6, 2022: Manuel Metzger (Nurburgring) – Fractured thoracic vertebra
• August 28, 2022: Jules Gounon (Virginia IMSA) – Fractured fourth and fifth thoracic vertebrae
• October 8, 2022: David Schumacher (Hockenheim DTM) – Fractured first lumbar vertebra
• January 31, 2023: Lucas Auer (Daytona 24 Hours) – Lumbar vertebra fractures
• June 29, 2023: Kenny Habul (Spa-Francorchamps 24 Hours) – Fractured first lumbar vertebra
• One year ago: Stephen Grove (Bathurst) – Crushed vertebra

Mercedes-AMG Safety Measures

Mercedes-AMG has a reputation for building robust safety structures within its GT3 cars, featuring a carbon fiber seat tub and a six-point harness integrated with a steel roll cage. Following Lucas Auer’s injury in 2023, the manufacturer launched an investigation and implemented enhanced safety measures. It remains unclear whether these measures directly impacted the outcome of Aron’s crash. Source

Aron’s Gratitude

Aron expressed his thanks to Mercedes-AMG for the protective design of the car, which allowed him to self-extract from the wreckage. He was accompanied to the hospital by his teammate, Lucas Auer.