Before the flaming Bentley came to rest in the infield, Maxim Favour was out of his Mercedes and racing towards the wreckage. By the time he reached it a white clad figure in a crash helmet was already diving towards the unconscious driver. Between them Favour and his anonymous companion dragged the body to safety just as the Bentley exploded in a shower of  flaming debris.

A crowd had gathered around the trio to watch Favour removing the leather cap and goggles from the body in front of him. The urgent ringing of the circuit ambulance came closer as the crowd was roughly parted by a stranger with a Gladstone bag.

As Favour acknowledged the doctor at his side he caught sight of his fellow rescuer slipping into the crowd. He wanted to follow, but the doctor’s bald statement snapped him back to the problem at hand.

“He’s been shot.”