As can be seen from many of my reviews I am a huge motorsport fan. It is my love of all things with wheels and engines that have led me to this article and to share my opinion with you all.

On the 16th of October 2011 the motorsport world was rocked by the death of Indy car champion Dan Wheldon, barely a week later Moto GP rider Marco Simoncelli was also killed in competirion. During the days that followed the motorsport world stood shoulder to shoulder competitors, those in the business and the fans, we had lost two great competitors and everybody was in mourning. I for one am so proud of everybody involved there were no barriers, nobody cared where you were from or what you had to offer they just cared that you cared.
I hadn't stayed up to watch the final race of the Indy car season I had been up early to watch the formula one and in a way I am glad. I awoke the next morning and checked my phone and was greeted with the news as I switched on the news channel Dan's face was plastered on the screen with footage of the accident, in shock I just slumped in the chair not saying a word just staring. As details of the horrific accident were told and footage was shown tears rolled down my face. It had been barely 3 months since we had been face to face with Dan at an event, he had taken time out of his weekend to ask us our opinion on how he should entertain the fans and chatted to us like long lost friends he made us feel a part of his weekend and he used his time to go that extra mile. My next thought was to go and wake up my friend the only words that came out were,
"There's been a big crash at Vegas.....Dans dead!"
As she watched the TV welling up, I checked my online messages from friends all over the world (tears still rolling down my face) we have all met through our mutual love of racing and everybody seemed to be in the same state as us. Dan was not well known in the UK outside of the motorsport world but suddenly people wanted to know about him people who knew nothing about racing were asking me about him and what made me more upset was that it had taken his death for his achievements to be recognised, especially by the media. Marcos death live on TV the following weekend added further upset twitter was a wash with condolence messages each one made the reader feel they were not alone, the motorsport world was united, they were the worst circumstances imaginable yet we were all still united.

My very first encounter with death had been through motorsport at the age of 8 I lost a hero of mine F1 driver Ayrton Senna. The deaths of both Senna and Roland Ratzenberger at Imola taught me that nothing is for ever and as I watched the medical helicopter take off from the track on Sunday the 1st may 1994 I hoped Ayrton would be ok but had had it explained to me it didn't look good.
Over the years drivers I have followed have passed either on track or off, Richard Burns, Colin Mcrae and Henry Surtees to name but a few all of which have upset me. I would like to point out it is only those who I admire and am interested in their careers that have such an affect on me I do not ball my eyes out at the mere sight of R.I.P.

I believe the reason I am emotionally affected by the deaths of celebrities in such a way is because each, in some way or another has been a part of my life. who would i be if I had not got in to motorsport or not discovered an artist whose songs have provided the soundtrack to my life. A celebrity can be in your life longer than some of the faces on your friends list, especially in sport you have shared highs and lows, with the victory or defeat of a sports team affecting you just as much as (sometimes more than) a friendly conversation. The mere sound of a song by your favourite artist can make you smile or cry, remembering the good or the bad.
Motorsport has been a big part of my life for as long as I can remember which is a lot longer than some of my friends. The drivers are competing partly for our entertainment as well as their own love, so if the worst happens you do feel affected. Surly if emotions were not to be shown we would not posses them. I am not bothered by my reactions to celebrity deaths I believe they are completely natural if something is sad I will cry and what is sadder than the death of someone you admire whether that person is in your life everyday or a celebrity is irrelevant.