Maro Engel slams teammate SVG over Bathurst crash

TENSIONS have exploded at Mount Panorama with Scott Taylor Motorsport driver Maro Engel launching a scathing verbal assessment of his teammate Shane van Gisbergen.

The reigning Supercars Australia champion had just crashed out of the Bathurst 12 Hour with 20-minutes of the race yet to run.

When approached by TV cameras, a forlorn Engel launched a scathing assessment of his teammate.

A very unhappy @MaroEngel with @shanevg97. #B12HR pic.twitter.com/yxMq9MfFJ6

— Bathurst 12 Hour (@Bathurst12hour) February 5, 2017

“That is not motorsport in my book,” he said. “I have to watch what I am saying. All I have seen this weekend is a lot of mistakes from Shane. This is a tough one.”

Engel was visibly upset by the crash which ruled the #22 Mercedes-Benz GT3 out of the race while running second outright, and in serious contention for victory.

Van Gisbergen had received a pit lane penalty for an earlier incident moments before his Mercedes collided with the wall, but had yet to be informed by the team.

The Kiwi driver was critical of his own performance upon returning to pitlane.

.@shanevg97 offers his apologies for his late race incidents. #B12HR pic.twitter.com/l6JGMP84E9

— Bathurst 12 Hour (@Bathurst12hour) February 5, 2017

“I made a mistake. I am pretty critical of myself, and that was 100 percent me,” he said.

“I just stuffed up and ended up in the wall, so sorry to my team, and sorry to my teammates."

When asked about his response to Engel’s earlier comments, Shane van Gisbergen remained remorseful.

“I’ll go an apologise to him, but that was my mistake,” he said.

The #22 Mercedes had been in contention for victory all weekend, battling for the lead throughout the entire 12 hours of racing, scrapping with the Maranello Motorsport Ferrari 488 that eventually claimed victory.