Updated: A YOUNG drag racing driver died after losing control of his car at 130mph in front of his family and more than 1,000 spectators.

Kasey Dixon-Grainger’s 1966 Ford Cortina rolled over several times and burst into flames as it crossed the finishing line at York Raceway, at Seaton Ross, near Melbourne, yesterday.

The popular 23-year-old driver had just posted a personal best time, watched by his family on the first day of the two-day meeting – East Yorkshire’s biggest drag car racing event of the year.

Organisers immediately abandoned the rest of the day’s programme as a mark of respect.

Fellow drivers formed a parade of honour along the track at Melbourne Airfield and held a minute’s silence in his memory before gathering in small silent groups with their families and supporters to remember one of the sport’s “great characters”. “This has never happened in the 34 years were have been operating here,” said Steve Murty, the racecourse’s manager.

“The family are absolutely devastated. They worked together on the car. He was a great character, very well-known and a well-respected racer for many years in racing here on this track and on other tracks throughout the country.

“Obviously everything is very, very sombre.

“He had owned the car for a long number of years. He knew the car inside out and had carried out, along with his family, most of the modifications.

“They were done in a very professional manner. You couldn’t fault his ability or his engineering.”

About 100 drivers had gathered for the two-day event. Racing was set to resume today.

Mr Dixon-Grainger’s father, Paul, and brother, who worked on the car with him, and other members of the family, were at the event He came from Billingham in Cleveland.

The tragedy happened shortly before 11am as Mr Dixon-Grainger finished a two-car race in the American stock car class. The other car stopped, but as Mr Dixon-Grainger’s Mark 1 Ford Cortina crossed the line at 130mph, it went out of control, veered sideways and rolled over and several times.

Specialist motorsport fire and first aid rescue units were at the event and immediately went into action as his car came to a stop. Yorkshire Air Ambulance was called, but despite resuscitation attempts and paramedic attention, Mr Dixon-Grainger died at the scene.

No other car was involved in the crash and no one else was injured.

A joint investigation into the crash by the Health and Safety Executive, Humberside Police and East Riding of Yorkshire Council is now under way to discover the cause of the accident.

Locals in a nearby pub, The Melbourne Arms, at Melbourne, said they had never known a similar tragedy at the racetrack.