Peter Brock Death Casts Pall Over Targa West Rally

The death of Australian racing legend Peter Brock at the Targa West Rally in Western Australia has cast a pall of gloom over the remaining two days of the motoring event.

The rally is continuing until Sunday.

Peter Brock was killed yesterday, Friday, Australian western standard time, when his car, a silver Cobra Daytona Coupe V8, slammed into a tree on a notorious stretch of the forest rally. He was 61.

Brock's co-driver, Mick Hone, survived with serious injuries and rushed to hospital.

Brock was the king of Australian car racing and came by such appellations as "King of the Mountain" for winning the Bathurst 1000 at Mount Panorama a record nine times, and "Peter Perfect" for his brilliant driving skills.

The Victorian Government has offered a state funeral for the motoring legend.

For Australia, it was the second death of an Australian idol within a week, with Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin dying on Monday, September 4, after he was stung by a stingray in far north Queensland.

The Targa West Rally is being held near the Western Australia capital of Perth.