By TERRY MADDAFORD
Ashley Stichbury's sudden death yesterday has cast a pall over tonight's New Zealand Motorsport awards ceremony.
Stichbury, 30, was placed on life support following a cerebral haemorrhage on Thursday, but died following a scan and operation in Auckland Hospital.
Stichbury, rated by Austrian Formula One driver Alex Wurz a decade ago as one of the two best drivers, alongside the late world champion Ayrton Senna, who he had driven against, won this season's New Zealand V8 Touring Car championship.
Wurz battled with Stichbury in Formula Fords in New Zealand during the early 1990s as Stichbury became the first and only driver to win consecutive Formula Ford national titles.
Stichbury, who was planning a third campaign at the Bathurst race in Australia this year, is a finalist in the Jim Clark Trophy, NZ Motorsport's premier award.
A former kart and TraNZam champion, Stichbury moved from Hawkes Bay to Auckland some years ago. He is survived by his wife, Anna, and eight-month-old son, Zak.
Motorsport: Touring car champion dies suddenly aged 30
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