A WOULD-BE racing driver was killed when the car he was driving smashed into a tree, an inquest has heard.

Just days after 30-year-old Ricardo Reverdy died in his Ford Sierra on the A449, near Hawford, he was sent a letter saying he was through to the final 1,000 entrants on the Channel Five gameshow So You Want to be an F1 Driver?

"It was his dream to be a racing driver," said Mr Reverdy's half-brother, Steve Blood.

"In his diary he had it all mapped out. He'd entered and passed a number of advanced racing driving courses and done some karting and found he was good at it."

Mr Blood, of Timberdine Avenue, Battenhall, Worcester, said his brother had led a full life.

"He'd been around the world, to Australia, India. It goes without saying that he was truly lovely."

Stourport Coroner's Court heard yesterday how Mr Reverdy, formerly known as Richard Crumpler, who lived in Wyld's Lane, died when he attempted to undertake a car on the dual carriageway towards Kidderminster on Monday, January 13, this year.

As he was passing a Honda Civic on a right bend he was forced to turn in sharply to avoid another car and lost control.

Rosemary Jackson, from Kidderminster, a passenger in the Honda Civic, broke down in tears as she told the court what the car's driver, Caroline Hobbs, from Kidderminster, told her as Mr Reverdy's car approached.

"She said, 'Oh, look at that'. I looked out of my passenger window and a car was alongside going extremely fast.

"He tried to get through the gap but he was going so fast.

"His wheels locked, he span and just disappeared. I saw him go into the verge and heard the bang."

The inquest heard that Mr Reverdy, an unemployed painter and decorator, died at the scene.

Deputy coroner for Worcestershire, Timothy Sherwood, recorded a verdict of accidental death.