Jim Clark was regarded by many as one of the safest drivers in the sport.

England have

Motor racing world champion Jim Clark has been killed in a car crash during a Formula Two race at Hockenheim.

Clark, 32, was at the wheel of his Lotus-Cosworth which left the track at 170mph (274km/h),somersaultedthrough the air and collided with a tree on a remote part of the German track.

The twice Formula One champion, who sustained a broken neck and a fractured skull, was dead before he reached hospital.

The cause of the accident is not yet known although experts have suggested it could have been a fault in the steering mechanism or rear-axle suspension.

Although it had been raining prior to the race, this is not thought to have caused Clark's car to skid.

The car seemed to be in a thousand pieces

Eye-witness

The 80,000 spectators, who were informed of the accident via loudspeaker some two hours later, were stunned by the news.

They spontaneously rose to their feet in silent tribute.

The only witness to the accident was a track marshal who said: "I was horror-struck. Everything happened so fast. The car skidded off to the left and seemed to dive through the fence only 10 yards (9.14m) from me.

"It went skidding and somersaulting across the grass and hit a tree with a tremendous thump.

"The car seemed to be in a thousand pieces."

'Hell of a gap'

The 32-year-old farmer from Scotland, who was not married, had been involved in several spectacular accidents during his 15-year career but had never suffered serious injury.

Tributes poured in from around the world as the news of Jim Clark's death was spread.

Fellow racing driver Graham Hill, who was in the same race, said Jim Clark's death "leaves a hell of a gap in the racing scene."

He added: "For me as well as for thousands of others, it means the loss of a friend."

Jackie Stewart, also a racing driver, said: "Jimmy's death is probably the most tragic thing in my experience of motor-racing - probably in the history of motor-racing.

"Jimmy was not only a famous driver, he was an international personality, loved by all his fiercest rivals."

Clark's body is due to be flown back to Scotland later today. His funeral is expected to take place Wednesday in Chirnside, near his home.

US campaigned on behalf of Latin American producers

The WTO says the European Union (EU) has broken international rules on trade but Brussels says it may appeal.

The banana row centres on the preferential treatment allegedly given by the EU to banana producers from former African, Caribbean and Pacific colonies at the expense of Latin American growers and their US backers.

The WTO was asked last month to rule on whether the EU had done enough to amend its import regime and whether retaliatory American sanctions were legitimate.

Washington had sought $520m inretaliatorysanctions as compensation for lost business in Europe.

However, the WTO awarded only $191m.

Luxury goods

America's top negotiator on agriculture matters, Peter Scher, said the list of European goods targeted for sanctions last month would now be revised as a result of the reduced compensation.

Items on the list include Scottish cashmere sweaters, Italian cheese, French handbags and German coffee makers.

Products selected for sanctions will be subject to import taxes of up to 100% - doubling their price to American shoppers.

Senior EU officials have meanwhile confirmed that the union will comply with the ruling, but said they would reserve the right to appeal against it.

They insist that the WTO panel has approved the principle of its policy, which is to protect African and Caribbean banana producers.

An EU spokesman said: "There is no ruling here that says under WTO rules it is illegal to offer protection to those (Caribbean) producers."

somersault:the body rolls in a complete circle, heels over head (翻跟头)

retaliatory:(of an action) that pay back evil with evil（报复性的）