KEY POINTS:
An up-and-coming star of New Zealand speedway, sprint car racer Andrew Edwards, has died from injuries he received in a crash at Baypark on New Year's Day.
Edwards, 19, from Ohaupo, near Te Awamutu, suffered serious head injuries after his car flipped entering a turn early in the feature race and landed back on its wheels, crashing into a wall.
He never regained consciousness and died in Waikato Hospital on Tuesday.
Edwards was a new competitor in the sprint car division this season. He had been a leading driver in the mini-sprint class along with his father, Mark, and younger brother, Brian. Until this season the family had based its racing at the Kihikihi Speedway.
Tauranga mayor and speedway driver Stuart Crosby said Edwards had been an up-and-coming driver and his death was a tragedy.
Mr Crosby said the speedway fraternity was very close, with many messages of sympathy and support for the family posted on the sport's website.
Baypark Speedway promoter Willie Kay said he had notified Tauranga police and expected them to investigate independent of Speedway New Zealand.
A staunch speedway supporter and the builder of Baypark stadium, Tauranga MP Bob Clarkson, said Edwards' death was a tragedy but it was important that authorities did not over-react.
The investigation should see if any lessons could be learned, but speedway was already highly regulated and people should not be prevented from enjoying a sport where there was a risk factor.
- BAY OF PLENTY TIMES
