Shattering end to ride in 'dream car'

Jamie Shennan walked away from the Ferrari crash.

The passenger who walked away from a fatal Ferrari crash on Sunday had been looking forward to a ride in his "dream car".

Jamie Shennan, an 18-year-old apprentice motor mechanic at Pit Stop Napier, was in the luxury car with Andrew Bass when it collided with a safety wall at a race track in Taupo.

The car's speed was estimated at 190km/h and the passenger side bore the brunt of the impact.

Photo / Daily Post

Remarkably, Jamie walked away with minor injuries. Mr Bass, the driver, died at Taupo Hospital that day from his injuries.

Dennis Churcher, the track day event organiser and Jamie's employer, said the fact that Jamie was not seriously hurt was the only good thing to come out of the tragedy.

"I think it's the only glimmer of something positive in the whole thing," he said. "Andy was such a genuinely lovely person that he'd be devastated if he thought he'd hurt somebody else. The fact that he hasn't is giving us all a bit of hope, really."

He said Jamie had "been to hell and back again" and was struggling after the crash.

"He's still very, very shaken up."

"I saw him heading out in the car and it was just a massive smile on his face and he was going out for a ride in his dream car."

At the time of the crash, Mr Bass was wearing fireproof racing overalls, a crash helmet and a safety belt.

Mr Bass, the director of Florida Construction and 458 Construction, is survived by his wife, Lyndy, four children and seven grandchildren.

A service will be held at Mission Estate on Friday at 2pm.