JJ Wilson · Prevention of Future Deaths report

The inquest into the death of JJ Wilson was opened on 5th March 2018. It was resumed on 2nd July 2019 before a Jury and was concluded on 4th July 2019.

The Jury found the medical cause of death to be:

1a. Blunt Head and Neck Trauma

The Jury determined that JJ Wilson died as a result of an Accident.

JJ Wilson (“JJ”) worked as a Mechanic for Double R Racing. He trained as a mechanic at the National College for Motorsport and began working for Double R Racing in 2012. JJ left Double R Racing for 18 months before returning to the Company to work as a Senior Mechanic from February 2016 until his death.

At the time of his death, JJ had completed building a Tatuus Formula 3 car (“the Tatuus”) with some limited assistance from another mechanic. He along with 3 other work colleagues took the Tatuus to Longcross Race Track on 21st February 2018 for what is called a shakedown test, and JJ was the driver for this. The Court heard evidence that the shakedown was meant to be completed at between 50 and 70 miles per hour, but that JJ had driven at speeds of up to 137 miles per hour.
During the final laps of the shakedown, a bolt which was meant to hold the front nearside upper wishbone of the Tatuus came undone and the Court heard evidence this was because it had not been tightened to the correct torque when the Tatuus was constructed. This caused an irreparable loss of control of the Tatuus, which left the track and the front nearside wheel collided with a concrete block, became detached and caused the car to rotate and roll onto its offside before colliding with a tree. JJ suffered serious head and neck injuries as a result of this collision which caused his instantaneous death.

The Court heard evidence that whilst there are regulations regarding clothing to be worn during race events, set by the FIA, there are no regulations for clothing to be worn whilst testing a racing car on a test track.
The Court heard evidence that JJ was wearing racing boots, gloves and a new Schuberth race helmet, but was wearing ordinary combat trousers. The Court heard evidence that racing overalls were available had JJ wanted to wear these.
Whilst ████████ for the Surrey Police Collision Investigation Unit confirmed in her evidence that JJ’s clothing would not have made any difference to the sad outcome in this case, I am concerned that fire retardant overalls are not a requirement to be worn by all test track drivers.

- It is not obligatory for fire retardant overalls to be worn by test track drivers which creates a potential risk of death or serious injury in the event of a crash in circumstances similar to that which caused the death of JJ Wilson;

Consideration should be given to whether any steps can be taken to address the above concerns.