Marshal’s Brands Hatch death ruled an accident – Motorsport. com

The 67-year-old had been positioned at marshal post two on the approach to Paddock Hill Bend on 31 July, 2021 during a British Automobile Racing Club meeting at the Kent venue.

Simon Beament’s Ford Escort RS2000 made contact with another car down the start-finish straight in the Pre-93 and Pre-03 Touring Car race, and was sent into the barrier on the outside of the particular circuit before flipping over in to the marshal’s post.

In a statement at the inquest held on Wednesday at Maidstone’s County Hall, Beament said: “As I caught up with a black BMW car on the particular track, We remember feeling a tap on the right side of my car. I actually then felt a second tap plus a third tap.

“My car did not change line, but it then went into the particular barrier and rolled two or three times.

“As I took the hands off the wheel after the crash We felt a bone coming through our left leg. ”

The particular race has been immediately stopped and Beament was taken to hospital following the incident after sustaining a broken leg, while emergency services worked on Foote before he was pronounced dead in the scene at 2: 48pm.

A pathology report determined that the cause of death had been due to “head injuries” plus that this was “consistent along with severe forceful impact to the head”.

Paul Burlison, environmental health officer for Sevenoaks District Council, revealed that Motorsport UK carried out a routine inspection upon the track in February 2021 and reported no issues.

However , it was noted that will the way the vehicle came straight down onto article marshal write-up two “should not have happened”.

Burlison detailed how the Armco barrier should “give” when a car comes into connection with this at speed, but in this case the car rode on the particular top of the barrier.

Marshals tribute

Photo by: Jakob Ebrey

Daniel Carter, safety executive for Motorsport UK, carried out an inspection of the track days following the incident and found that this barriers were fixed by timber oak posts at the MotorSport Vision location.

New circuit guidelines were introduced in 2019 for all new circuits stipulating that Armco should be mounted in order to steel articles. Brands Emerge has installed metal blogposts for the last 10 years under a rolling programme, where wood posts needed to be replaced.

Nevertheless , steel content and additional barriers such as tyres are also required within areas presenting a “higher risk” this kind of as head-on positions from corners.

It was said to have been “unusual” for this type of crash to occur at marshal post two, and steel posts had been not required under the particular applicable guidelines on straights although were present in the Armco sections adjacent to the particular marshal publish.

Jamie Champkin, Motorsport UK’s regulatory counsel, revealed that since the event occurred, approximately £500, 000 is being invested in the programme with venues and others in rolling out LED signage with major circuits across the country in order to “enhance the particular safety associated with marshals”.

Having considered the evidence, senior coroner Roger Hatch stated: “In motorsport there is always danger likely to occur whenever racing on high velocity. Those dangers are recognised and accepted by those taking part; whether drivers, or marshals or even anyone else involved.

Flowers at crash site

Photo by: Gary Hawkins

“Dangers are carefully considered simply by those organising and minimised wherever possible but sadly, this particular fatal incident occurred. ”

He concluded that Mr Foote’s death was “caused by an accident”.

Foote had been the Mayor of Epsom and Ewell, in Surrey, between 2014 and 2015, as well as a good aircraft engineer, qualified pilot, skilled mechanic and coach driver.

Brian Angus, chair from the Surrey Mayors’ Association, said: “It was just amazing what he did do. I actually remember when he drove us on a coach trip to Bruges.

“The fact that will he has been the mayor and a coach driver was simply hard to compute. He had the scuba kit, loved sailing, he really was just like a James Bond character. ”

Thousands of tributes were produced by the motorsport community following Foote’s death, including from Formula 1 drivers Lewis Hamilton and George Russell, whilst a JustGiving page raised more than £59, 000.

Jonathan Palmer, chief executive of MSV, stated: “I had been deeply saddened by Robert Foote’s death at Brands Hatch last July plus his family have my condolences.

“Motor racing is hugely dependent on the army of volunteer marshals who give their time and experience week after 7 days to allow racing to take place safely, so Robert’s loss was experienced very deeply across the motorsport world.

“In conjunction along with Motorsport UNITED KINGDOM and the ACU, MSV constantly reviews monitor safety plus implements enhancements where appropriate, and as part of that process we learn from incidents like this tragic accident. ”