Big crash for Sunrise's Denyer.

Australian 'Sunrise' weatherman Grant Denyer didn't get his other career as a racing driver for the Summit Fleet Leasing squad in the V8 Develpment Series off to the best of starts as he turned his Ford Falcon into, in his words, mince meat.

Denyer was out on track at Adelaide for the Clipsal 500 event and was in the qualifying session for the V8 Supercar feeder series when he ploughed into a tyre barrier at 140 kph.

The popular weatherman and television presenter was taken to hospital to receive treatment on what was thought to be a broken right wrist and a fractured left shoulder.

"Fortunately the damage was not as bad as first thought," said Grant afterwards. "I've torn ligaments in my right arm and have muscle damage to my left shoulder."

The incident means Denyer's move up to the Development Series after impressing in the Utes over the past few years, has been put back to the second round of the series.
"I won't be driving again this weekend but I'll be right to go again for the second round in seven weeks time," explains Denyer. "With physio, the ligament damage should be healed in six weeks and the shoulder will mend in a fortnight or so.

"Even if I hadn't injured myself I wouldn't be able to drive again this weekend, the car is mince meat. The team wouldn't have been able to repair it for tomorrow's race."

Denyer was starting his second timed qualifying lap when he became airborne as he exited the first chicane.

"The car was in the air after it hit the ripple strip," Denyer said. "The car landed a little sideways and I went off the track; thank god there was a tyre stack waiting for me, or the damage would have been worse.

"I know from looking at the telemetry data that I was doing 148 kays per-hour prior to the accident and 140 (km/s) at the direct point of impact, so it was a big hit.

"The Adelaide street circuit is tough and I was driving the Summit Ford for the first time so I was still learning.

"It's just one of those things that happens and I'll just try to ensure that I don't make the same mistakes again.

"I'm more disappointed for the team and the sponsors that have worked so hard to get me here."

While this was happening Denyer's team mate Dean Canto was putting his Gatorz Ford on pole.

"I'm really happy with the Ford and with the team," said Canto after his qualifying effort.

"I've never achieved a pole position in V8s so it was a good day.

Canto is expecting quite a dual in the race with Warren Luff, who came second and Adam Macrow, third.

"All three of us (Canto, Luff and Macrow) should probably be driving in the V8 Championship so we'll be out there tomorrow to show what we are capable of," Canto said.

"We'll be giving it our all and I'm sure the racing will be entertaining."