A drag race driver who crashed during an event in Western Australia died doing something he loved, his ex-partner says.
Brody Ford, 26, was competing in a Racewars event at Albany Airport, in the Great Southern region, on Sunday morning when his Ford Mustang failed to stop, entered a grassed and sandy area, and flipped several times.
"The vehicle broke into pieces before coming to rest and then caught fire," a police spokesman said in a statement on Monday.
Mr Ford was taken to Albany Hospital then flown to Royal Perth Hospital in a critical condition but later died.
Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding his death.
Mr Ford's ex-partner of four years Maddison Shanhun said her heart was broken as she remembered him as courageous, ambitious and loving.
"He was so passionate about his cars, he would regularly be in the garage until 2am polishing and windexing his mirrors," she wrote on social media.
Ms Shanhun said Mr Ford would park 100m out of the way "just to keep his pride safe" and she often joked that if his cars could kiss him he would not need her.
"You flew into the stars doing something you loved so dearly," she wrote.
"I hope heaven is filled with luxury cars, the bluest beaches and the most beautiful sunrises."
Racewars is described as Australia's largest runway racing event where drivers can push vehicles to their limits.
Earlier in the morning, there was a parachute failure on a Blue Supra, which also overran the runway, and the driver was taken to Albany Hospital with a sore neck.
"The driver of this vehicle was fine and in good spirits," Racewars event director Jon Murray said in a statement on Sunday.
"Motorsport is a cruel mistress at times but we all understand the risks of participation," Mr Murray said, before Mr Ford died.
"We remain committed to grassroots motorsport and the social and safety benefits of taking speed off the streets."
Racing at the airport was suspended following the two crashes but a schedule of events on Monday was not interrupted.
The incidents come just two weeks after a coronial inquest into the death of eight-year-old Anita Board, who crashed while drag racing at Perth Motorplex in November 2017.
