Driver dies during Silverstone classic race in Northampton

Denis Welch was racing in the HGPCA pre-1966 Grand Prix Cars category when his rear-engined car came off the track.

He ran Staffordshire-based Denis Welch Motorsport, which supplied parts for classic cars from its site in Yoxall near Lichfield.

The MSA said Mr Welch’s 1960 Lotus 18 clipped another car and rolled over at low speed during the event, organised by the Historic Sports Car Club.

A statement from Silverstone said: “It is with great regret that the organisers of the Silverstone Classic have to report that, following an accident in a race on Sunday 27th July, the driver of car number 19, Denis Welch, succumbed to his injuries later in the circuit’s Medical Centre.

“The event organisers, the race organisation, and the circuit’s medical and emergency services, will all now be co-operating with the police and the MSA, the UK official motor sport governing body, to conduct a full investigation.

“All those involved in the event offer sincere condolences to family and the friends of Denis Welch at this very sad time.”