Ex-champion Wolf Silvester dies at Nuerburgring

Former champion Wolf Silvester died from a suspected heart attack while racing in the German Endurance Championships at Nuerburgring’s Formula One track on Saturday with the tragedy forcing the event to be abandoned.

Police confirmed to SID, an AFP subsidiary, that the 55-year-old died behind the wheel of his Opel car, but no other drivers were affected.

Silvester won the championship title in 2006 and 2010.

After almost three hours of racing, the event at Nuerburgring, 70 kilometres south of Cologne, was cancelled and in what was the fourth of ten rounds of the 2013 national endurance championships.

“We are deeply concerned and our thoughts are with his family”, said race chairman Rolf Krimpmann in a statement.

Nuerburgring will host the German Grand Prix on July 7 as part of the Formula One season, the next in the series following the British Grand Prix at Silverstone, England on June 30.