Bamboo mourns founder Vaulkard

Bamboo Engineering's preparations for this weekend's World Endurance Championship round at Spa-Francorchamps has been marred by the death of co-founder and co-owner Nigel Vaulkhard.

Vaulkhard was involved in a mountain biking accident on Wednesday and, despite being airlifted to hospital, later succumbed to his injuries.

Involved in racing all his life, he moved into team management in 2009 when setting up Bamboo with Richard Coleman. Vaulkhard was a regular attendee at events around the world and was a well-known and well-liked character in the World Touring Car Championship paddock.

"Nigel and I started working together in late 2008 and, since then, became very close friends," Coleman commented, "Nigel co-founded Bamboo and was a driving force in the team - his passion, commitment and belief in the team was unparalleled.

"We finished third in an FIA World Championship last year and were crowned independent champions - an achievement Nigel was very proud of. I was extremely proud to have Nigel as my best man at my wedding last year."

A highly-talented businessman outside of the motorsport world made Vaulkhard a cornerstone to the success of the team and he will be greatly missed on a personal and professional level. He is survived by wife Heather and sons Harry and Ollie.

It is naturally with heavy hearts that the Bamboo Craft team races this weekend, but it does so with the full belief that this is what its co-founder would have wanted.

Crash.net send its thoughts and condolences to Vaulkhard's family and friends at this difficult time.