TRIBUTES have been paid to racing driver Peter O’Shea, who died of a heart attack during a final qualifying session at Castle Combe Circuit.

Mr O’Shea, 53, of Worcester, was driving his Swift Cooper during Saturday’s Formula Ford Championship meeting when it left the track at 11am.

Marshalls and medical staff went to the stricken driver’s aid and the Wiltshire Air Ambulance was alerted.

It arrived within 20 minutes, but Mr O’Shea was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics.

Castle Combe spokes-man Rodney Gooch said: “It was such a horrible incident. My heart goes out to Mr O’Shea’s family and his team.

“He was a quiet man, but very popular with the other drivers. If I’m honest, he was exactly what Castle Combe is all about.

“The marshalls did an amazing job and the situation couldn’t have been handled any better.”

Irish-born Mr O’Shea had been driving with the Swift Cooper team for three seasons and the Castle Combe event was the third time he had represented it this season.

As a mark of respect, the championship race scheduled for that afternoon was put back to Sunday.

Teammate Luke Cooper raced with Mr O’Shea’s name on the side of his car in tribute. He said: “I don’t really know what to say, it was such a shock, Peter was just such a nice guy.”

Swift Cooper owner Alan Cooper said: “What happened was just very devastating and understandably Luke is upset.

“He wanted to pay a tribute by putting Peter’s name on his car.”

The Castle Combe Circuit website has set up a forum for fellow racers and fans to leave messages of condolence. Racer Kyle Tilley said: “An all round good guy, the paddock will be a lesser place without you.”