Blanchard Racing Team driver Golding had failed to recover after brushing the barrier on the run to McPhillamy Park, resulting in a heavy airborne collision against the concrete wall.
Aron, Golding, and Zelger were able to exit their cars, with Aron taken to hospital in Orange for further assessment.
Tickford ace Cam Waters had snared pole position in the No.222 Scott Taylor Motorsport Mercedes with co-drivers Thomas Randle and defending Supercars champion Chaz Mostert.
But the all-Australian line-up was ruled out of the race with less than an hour on the clock, after Mostert collided with Supercars rookie Jayden Ojeda in No.2 Team Tigani Motorsport Mercedes.
Supercars star Broc Feeney was the first scalp claimed after No.67 HRT Ford Racing co-driver Christopher Mies hit a kangaroo at top speed on Conrod Straight less than 20 minutes into the 12-hour marathon.
The two-time Bathurst 12-hour winner was able to exit the field’s sole Ford entrant, but was covered in kangaroo blood as the car sustained extensive damage to its front-left.
Mustang third driver Dennis Olsen said Mies had hit the kangaroo while racing at 250km/h, but did not appear to suffer any injuries, having been assessed by the medical team.
“Luckily, Mies is OK,” Olsen told Fox Sports.
“We can see that he was for sure impacted by that. I’m glad he’s OK, that’s the main thing.”
AAP
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