Friday, September 08, 2006

Peter Brock killed in crash

Australian motor racing legend Peter Brock has been killed in an accident while taking part in the Targa West rally in Western Australia, motor sport officials have confirmed.

Brock, 61, from Melbourne, became Australia's best known motor sport personality and a dominant figure in the sport.

West Australian police say a car competing in the Targa West rally crashed into a tree at Gidgegannup about 30 kilometres north-east of Perth about 12pm.

The car was carrying two people and one had died in the crash, he said.

The major crash investigation unit was at the scene, he said. Ambulances were not called.

Motor sport officials have confirmed the driver was Brock.

Brock, who was married with three children, was driving with Mick Hone in a Daytona Coupe.

The circumstances of the accident remain unclear.

The Targa West - which began in Perth yesterday - takes place over four days and is divided into two categories, competition and challenge, the latter catering for relatively standard specification road cars.

The Confederation of Australian Motor Sport (CAMS) said in a statement the accident occurred at about 1.50pm (AEST).

Sixty-one-year-old Brock's co-driver, believed to Mick Hone, has been taken to hospital in a stable condition.

CAMS said it will conduct a full investigation into the incident.

In the meantime, CAMS and event officials are working with the relevant civil authorities.

"On behalf of the motor sport community, CAMS offers its sincere sympathy to Peter's family and many friends," the statement said.

Targa West is a tarmac special stage rally.

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