British IndyCar driver killed in horrific accident

JUSTIN Wilson, a 37-year-old IndyCar driver from Sheffield, has died after he was hit on the head by a piece of flying debris.

He had been in a coma following the accident at the Pocono Raceway in Pennsylvania on Sunday (August 23) but it was announced that he died in hospital the next day.

A well-respected driver, he had competed in Formula One with the Minardi team when in his early 20s, moving on to drive for Jaguar and most recently competing in the IndyCar races in the US.

His brother Stefan, himself a racing driver, tweeted: “Can’t even begin to describe the loss I feel right now. He was my brother, my best friend, my role model and mentor. He was a champion!”

A statement issued by staff at Indycar.com said they would focus on providing support for Wilson’s family, which consisted of his wife Julia and two daughters.

“This is a monumentally sad day for IndyCar and the motorsports community as a whole,” said Mark Miles, the boss of IndyCar’s parent company.