Vintage car driver in fatal crash kept his cancer secret

 A vintage car driver who died during a hill climb event was only allowed to compete because he kept his cancer diagnosis secret from the race’s organisers, an inquest heard.

Colin Butt, 66, was killed when the brakes on his car failed and it careered down an embankment.

The inquest into his death, held in Exeter, Devon, heard that Mr Butt had held a competition licence for 19 years, but that would have been declined had organisers known he was suffering from cancer.

Mr Butt and Andrew Bennellick, his navigator, were competing in the 88 Exeter Trial at Fingle Woods, Devon, in January when the crash happened. Mr Butt suffered multiple injuries, which proved to be fatal. Mr Bennellick was thrown clear.

Vehicle examiners concluded the cause was brake failure due to a lack of brake fluid, which had leaked from a badly adjusted master cylinder.