Norfolk race driver Angela Lucas death was accidental

Amateur racer Angela Lucas was one of a three-driver team participating in a four-hour Citroen C1 endurance race at the Snetterton circuit in July 2021.

The 42-year-old died from head injuries after the car she was driving left the track and crashed into a safety barrier after being struck from behind by a competitor. 

An inquest heard she had been unsecured when she crashed with Motorsports UK finding her safety harness had probably become accidentally unbuckled as she tried to correct her steering. 

The Citroen C1 Angela Lucas was driving when she crashed, pictured at Snetterton circuit at the same event (Image: Richard Styles)

Jamie Champkin, of the governing body’s serious incident response executive which investigated, said the harness locking buckle had been incorrectly positioned on her stomach rather than her pelvis.

He said the harness had been in working order and described the incident as “unique”.

However, he admitted they had not investigated claims by one of the team’s other drivers, Shaun Fray, that the harness had “popped open” while he was driving on an earlier practice lap.

The inquest jury of seven women and four men took two hours on Wednesday to reach a conclusion that Mrs Lucas, a business consultant from Upwell, had died as the result of an accident.

“At the time Mrs Lucas collided with the barrier her harness was not buckled and she was unrestrained,” they said. 

“Mrs Lucas was thrown to the left and partly through the side window and sustained a severe head injury and died at the scene.

“We find the buckle was not in the correct position on Mrs Lucas. If the buckle was in the correct position as specified by the FIA regulations it would not be possible for the safety release lever to be accidentally activated.” 

But Mrs Lucas' sisters, Lorraine Hall and Caroline Dally, who attended the inquest hearing, said the exact circumstances of how the harness became unbuckled were still “not completely proven”

“Knowing our sister and her body shape we don’t feel that what they said happened was physically possible,” said Ms Hall. 

“We also struggle with the fact that they didn’t seem to find it highly relevant that Shaun Fray said that the harness came undone when he was driving over the same weekend. 

"To us it is very relevant because it is not a unique situation because it happened the day before.”

They called more on-board race car cameras after CCTV of the crash only showed the forward facing view. 

Ms Dally said: “We feel there should be recommendations that there should be rear-facing cameras rather than just front-facing in order for there to be clarity. That way there would be no dispute.”

Ms Hall added: “If anything comes out of this they perhaps need to review how they investigate for the sake of other families. We never want others to go through what we have gone through.”

The Snetterton circuit where Angela Lucas died during a four hour endurance race in 2021 (Image: Mike Page)

Mrs Lucas took up racing in 2007 after previously accompanying her husband as he competed in more than 250 races.  

Adam Lucas, who was the team’s manager, had helped to lock in place and tighten the safety harness straps as his wife took over the third leg of the endurance race.

The inquest heard he had maintained high safety standards and was “very diligent” but is no longer involved in motorsports since the crash.

Ms Hall said her sister, one of three siblings to parents Sue and Keith, who were unable to attend the inquest due to ill health, had been "positive, happy, fun loving, kind and caring”.

“She had the most infectious giggle and would light up a room when she walked in,” she said

“When the three of us were together we did nothing but laugh. She was a daredevil, adventurer and a real tomboy.”

Ms Dally added: “Racing driving is just the tip of it, everything she could do that was daredevil she would do. She was fearless.

“She was born at six months, so she was premature, and she fought tooth and nail to live and then packed so much into her life.” 

Following the conclusion of the inquest, a statement from Motorsport UK said Mrs Lucas had been a “very experienced and popular competitor and member of our community and part of a close-knit caring family” and that she “will always be sorely missed”.

“The jury found that the buckle of Mrs Lucas’ harness was not correctly located and if the buckle had been correctly located it would not have been possible for the turnbuckle to be activated,” it added.

“This tragic accident is a stark reminder of the need to ensure that motorsport regulations are complied with and that safety equipment – in particular harnesses – are properly located at all times, for all competitors and where relevant co-drivers.

“Motorsport UK once again extends its condolences to Angela’s family.”