Tragic end to 'dream car' ride

Photo / Ben Fraser

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

Jamie Shennan, an 18-year-old motor mechanic apprentice 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 crashed at an estimated speed of 190km/h and the passenger side bore the brunt of the impact.

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

The track day event organiser and Jamie's employer Dennis Churcher 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 wife, Lyndy, four children and seven grandchildren.

A service to to celebrate Mr Bass' life will be held at Mission Estate on Church Rd, Taradale on Friday at 2pm.