Ashley Cooper

11/7/1980 - 25/2/2008

Record updated 26-Feb-08

Ashley Cooper started racing in 1998 in HQ Holden sedans before moving to the Commodore Cup championship in 2005. He scored a number of wins and lap records. He was critically injured while racing in the Fujitsu V8 Supercar race in Adelaide and succumbed to his injuries two days later.

Ashley Cooper was born in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. He started racing in 1998 driving Holden HQ sedans. Leading the 2005 Commodore Cup championship for most of the year, Cooper finished fourth at the final round at Eastern Creek Raceway. In 2006, Cooper was crowned V8 Utes Rookie of the Year and was once again a front runner in the Commodore Cup. He competed in three rounds of the 2007 Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series with Sydney Star Racing, posting a top 15 finish at Queensland Raceway.

For 2008 he acquired the ex-Paul Morris Motorsport VZ Commodore, 'Astro', to run a full season of Fujitsu V8 Supercar racing. His first outing was the Clipsal 500 in Adelaide held between the 21st and 24th of February. Tragically on the 23rd he appeared to clip the inside of turn eight before sliding sideways into the safety barrier on the exit at over 200 kph and spinning onto the inside of the track. He was given emergency medical treatment track side from medical teams. Dr Bill Griggs performed a tracheotomy to assist with Cooper's breathing and he was transported to the Royal Adelaide Hospital and put on life support. Sadly he died two days later from severe head and internal injuries.



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