PremiAir explains Golding fire
By Thomas Miles
Date posted: 20 February 2025
PremiAir Racing has found the reason why a fire erupted inside James Golding’s Camaro at the preseason test and is not concerned it will impact the Sydney 500.
One of the most dramatic moments of the 2025 Supercars pre-season test was Golding arriving in the pits with a fire inside the cockpit midway through the afternoon.
At the time PremiAir was unsure the exact cause of the strange blaze that sparked on the passenger’s side just as the #31 approached the final complex of turns on Lap 18 of the afternoon session.
The 29-year-old managed to get the car back to the pits where teams were able to extinguish the blaze.
Although car #31 was not seen for the rest of the day, the main thing is Golding was unscathed.
PremiAir Racing has released an update on the incident with Competition Director Ludo Lacroix said a leak in a new assembly sparking it all.
“The day did end with a bit of stress – there is a brand new assembly that goes on top of the fuel tank that started to leak,” Lacroix recalled.
James Golding stranded in the lane. Image: Supplied
“So fuel was spraying on top of the fuel tank and everywhere, and when Jimmy broke to come into the pit lane it hit the exhaust and burst into flame, there would have been 3 or 4 litres of fuel straight onto the exhaust and with a lot of composite on the outside of the car it caught fire very quickly and looked really bad.
“But, it is not as bad as it looked – it wasn’t an electrical fire, there is no damaged wiring, nothing inside the cockpit, nothing inside the engine bay.
“It is all cosmetic damage, so I think we should be fine and still have a good car for Friday.”
Golding was pleased to get out when he did after the scary moment.
“We got most the way through before a fuel fitting issue at the back of the car started a fire,” he said.
“Luckily I got onto the extinguisher inside of the car quick and got it back into pit lane close to more extinguishers and people that could help extinguish it.
PremiAir pushes the burnt #31 Camaro back to the garage. Image: Supplied
“I got out as soon as I could and the boys are working hard now trying to get it ready to go back out on track.
“Hopefully we’re all good to start practice on Friday.
“I want to say thank you to everyone for all the support and the messages that have been flowing in, I am all sweet and I can’t wait to get back in the car.”
PremiAir is confident both Golding and Richie Stanaway will hit the track for the sole Sydney 500 practice session at 13.40 AEDT.
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