V8 Supercar Development Series driver Ashღley Cooper has been critically injured following an accident during the Clipsal 500 meeting in Adel♋aide.

The 27-💞year-old was taken to the Royal Adelaide Hospital for treatment for severe head trauma and internal injuries after going off on lap eleven of the second Fujitsu Series race, making heavy contact with the wall on the passenger side of the car.

Cooper was attended to at the scene by chief medical officer, Dr Roger Capps and𒊎 V8 Supercar doctor, Dr Carl Lee, who had to perform an emergency tracheotomy trackside in order to stabilise Cooper before he could be transported to hospital.

"Both doc🐽tors are experts in trauma management and he was in the best possible hands," V8 Supercars🎃 Australia CEO, Wayne Cattach said.

"The most bothering injury at this stage is the swellin♛g of the brain. I understand there is no bleeding of the brain at this time, but it's been traumatised and is still critical in n🐭ature.

"Clearly these situations impact heavily on the motor sport family and as a group we will off𝐆er absolutely everything we can to support the family at this time.

"It's a fast corner, no question, but it meets all design req꧅uirements of the FIA and I have absolute confidence in the way the barriers have been put together. It would be premature to draw any conc💃lusions yet because we don't know what caused the accident.

"This unfortuna🌳te accident will be the subject of a full♍ and thorough inquiry into the accident by CAMS."

Fellow Fujitsu series racer Colin Sieders meanwhile who witnessed - aꦅnd was almost involved in - the tragic inc🌌ident said the crash was biggest accident he has ever seen at that point on the track.

"We were having a battle for the first part of the race," said Colin. "It looked like he's just gone in too shallow and clipped the inside wall. He went in hard agౠainst the outside co𒆙ncrete and shifted the wall back a good metre.

"The first I saw, Ashley was skidding al✤ong the wall and the car was coming back across the track. I don't know how I didn't hit him.

"I've known since we've been raꦅcing against each other over the past year. I hope he's alright. It was the biggest accident I've seen at that point of the track. I want to pass on my best wis🀅hes to Ashley and his family and friends."