Two people were taken to hospital after a stock car competing at a national event in Ipswich appeared to lose control and collide with them and a forklift truck.

The drama unfolded at Foxhall Stadium on Saturday night when the vehicle crashed on to the track’s centre green, passing tyres on the speedway track and then collided with two people and a forklift truck – three people were injured in total.

It is believed that a previous crash during the BriSCA Formula 1 final, known as the elite of short circuit oval contact racing, halted proceedings temporarily and it was after racing restarted that the incident happened, at about 9pm.

Two St John Amulance volunteers were injured, with one being taken to hospital where they had an operation yesterday. The forklift driver received stitches to a head injury.

It is understood the other ambulance volunteer was treated at the scene.

Isaac Chenery, of BBC Suffolk, was at the stadium when the incident happened.

He said: “They were just a few laps into the restart when the car in question seemed to lose control, just missing tyres on the speedway track whose purpose is to slow cars down.

“You could see the driver fighting with the car, which didn’t seem to lose speed as it entered the centre green, first hitting a marshal, then hit the St John first aider.

“A forklift truck was also knocked over and the pace car was hit.

“The race was immediately stopped and the stadium fell silent. The packed crowd applauded as both people were taken away.”

Spedeworth Motorsport, which manages the stadium and was the event promoter, released a statement on its Facebook page today.

It said: “Spedeworth would like to thank our drivers and spectators for their patience and understanding in regards to the incident in the BriSCA Formula 1 final last night.

“We would also like to apologise for having to cancel the F1 Grand National due to the time curfew.”

The statement also thanked staff at the event for their handling of the incident, adding: “We wish them both a speedy recovery.”

A spokesman for the East of England Ambulance Service Trust said it was called to the stadium, in Foxhall Road.

The spokesman added: “An ambulance and an ambulance officer attended along with St John Ambulance. Two patients were treated at the scene.

“Not a lot is known about their injuries but we believe both were taken to Ipswich Hospital for further care.”