Hill Climb Death Ruled As Accident

- Nick Irving

An inquest has ruled, following a prolonged investigation, that the death of a veteran hillclimb driver was accidental. As reported in our 25 January issue, Colin Butt and his navigator were ejected from a Marlin Roadster after it rolled down a steep hill, crashed into a bank and flipped over. The court heard that Butt was fatally crushed when the car suffered complete brake failure during the 88th Exeter Trial on National Trust land at Fingle Woods, Devon, on 7 January.