IANS

London, Jul 20: Henry Surtees, teenage son of 1964 Formula One world champion John, died Sunday in an accident in the Formula Two race at the Brands Hatch circuit.

The 18-year-old driver was struck on the head, during the second of the weekend's two races, by a tyre from the car of rival Jack Clarke, who had spun into the wall exiting Westfield.

The Daily Telegraph reported that Henry was knocked unconscious by the impact and failed to negotiate the following Sheene Curve, his car running off the track and into the barrier. When medics reached him, his rear right tyre was still spinning furiously, his foot apparently still on the accelerator.

He was rushed to the circuit's medical centre, where his condition was stabilised. He was then transferred to the regional trauma centre of the Royal London hospital by helicopter. Late in the night he died from his injuries caused by the collision with the tyre rather than the resulting crash into the barriers.

Both Henry's father John and mother Jane were watching the race in which their son was killed.

Formula Two chief executive Jonathan Palmer said in a statement that his "thoughts were with the Surtees family".

Surtees graduated to F2 this season from Formula Renault and had taken his first podium finish in the series with third place in Saturday's race at Brands Hatch.