There are crashes drivers prepare for at Bathurst, and then there are moments that simply cannot be anticipated. Christopher Mies experienced the latter during the opening stages of the 2026 Bathurst 12 Hour when his race was ended by a wildlife strike at extreme speed.
Mies was driving the #64 HRT Ford Mustang GT3 on the Conrod Straight when the car struck a kangaroo at approximately 250 km/h during nighttime conditions. The impact was severe enough to rip the windshield from the Mustang and immediately force the car out of the race. The incident occurred without warning, leaving the experienced GT driver no time to react.
After climbing from the car, Mies was visibly shaken and took several minutes to regain his composure. He later explained that the suddenness of the impact left him grateful simply to have walked away.
“I’m glad I’m standing here right now talking to you,” Mies said. “It was a very big impact at a very high speed, and I’m thankful to be okay.”
Confirmation that the Mustang hit a kangaroo on Conrod Straight. Mies appears shaken – as you would be – but ok.
— Intercontinental GT Challenge (@IntercontGTC) February 14, 2026
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The collision highlighted the effectiveness of the Mustang GT3’s safety design. The Bathurst event marked the final appearance of the Ford Mustang GT3 in its pre-Evo specification, and the crash represented one of the car’s most severe real-world tests to date. Mies credited Ford Performance and Multimatic for engineering a car capable of protecting its driver under extreme circumstances.
According to Mies, the kangaroo appeared suddenly on the racing line. He stated that he did not see any warning flags and believes the animal may have entered the track moments before the impact. At that speed on the Conrod Straight, there was no opportunity to avoid the collision.
The severity of the incident was further underscored by the fact that debris and remains entered the cockpit, covering Mies’ helmet and racing suit. He confirmed that all of his driving gear was discarded afterward due to contamination. While the details were unpleasant, the outcome could have been far worse given the speed involved.
The early retirement was a major disappointment for the HRT squad and Mies’ co-drivers, reigning Supercars champion Broc Feeney and 2019 Intercontinental GT champion Dennis Olsen. The team had entered the Bathurst 12 Hour with high expectations, only to see their race end in one of the most unusual ways possible.
Despite the frightening nature of the crash, Mies made it clear that his affection for Australia and Mount Panorama remains unchanged. He confirmed his intention to return for future events, even joking that his souvenir choices would be more cautious next time.
The incident served as a stark reminder of the unique challenges presented by Mount Panorama. The circuit’s combination of extreme speed, elevation changes, and proximity to natural wildlife makes it unlike any other endurance racing venue in the world. On this occasion, modern safety engineering ensured that a potentially tragic moment ended with a driver walking away.
At Bathurst, where nature and motorsport intersect in unpredictable ways, survival can sometimes feel like the most important result of all.
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