A young supermarket manager died in a tragic motor racing accident last week as his brother drove an identical car in the same race.

Nic Fairman, 27, had been racing Caterham 7s for four years but around midday on June 3, on the Mallory Race Track in Leicestershire, his car left the track hitting a tyre wall on the fastest part of the track.

The death of the Tesco customer services manager who lived in Croydon has devastated his family, who called him “a very caring and loving person”.

His elder brother, Simon, who was driving another of the small cars, capable of speeds over 100 miles per hour, was slightly ahead of him on the course when the accident happened and escaped uninjured.

According to one eyewitness, Nic was in the leading pack of the third race of the day when one of the cars went off the track. The safety flags were brought out and the leading pack slowed suddenly.

Mike Whatley, chairman of the 750 Club of which Nic was a member, said: “He seemed to swerve to avoid another car and then went into the wall opposite the pit lane. This is the first time in 16 years I have seen anything like this.”

The paramedics were with Nic in seconds but he was dead on arrival at the hospital.

At his home in Cobham, Surrey, his father said: “It was a huge blow to us. We have been involved in motor sport for eight years and we are obviously very, very upset about losing my youngest son.

“Nic was a very caring and loving person. He was very hardworking, a fantastic lad. Both him and his brother loved motor racing.”

Nic began racing eight years ago, starting with carts for four years before going on to race Caterhams.

Mr Fairman said the family had been deeply moved by the support they received this week. He said: “We have been very pleased and overwhelmed by the concern from friends, neighbours and colleagues at both Nic's work and Simon's work, colleagues of mine in the City and people in racing.”