Channing 'in control'

The best friend of Rotorua stockcar driver Ray Channing, who was killed while racing at the weekend, is upset about speculation over how the crash happened.

Mr Channing, 52, was killed on Saturday night while competing at the Huntly Speedway track at the Waikato Stockcar Championship King of the Dirt event.

Three investigations have been mounted - by the police, Speedway NZ and the Department of Labour. Although it has not yet been determined how the accident happened, it has been reported Mr Channing's stockcar lost control and hurled backwards.

Stockcar pit crew member and best friend Terry O'Connor told The Daily Post yesterday he was about 50m away from the crash and saw what happened.

"He tangled with other cars and got a shunt from behind and hit the wall head-on," he said.

Mr O'Connor said Mr Channing did not lose control. "That's an insult. He was a very capable driver."

Mr Channing's funeral is being held at Rotorua's Energy Events Centre at 1pm tomorrow. He will be taken on a lap of honour around Paradise Valley Raceway before he is laid to rest.