Rally death prompts rules tightening

The death of a rally car driver in northern Tasmania has sparked a raft of coronial recommendations including compulsory alcohol testing of every competitor before each race stage.

John Ernest Mansell, 71, from Newcastle in NSW, was killed on April 17, 2013 while competing in the popular Targa Tasmania event.

His blood alcohol level was 0.012 when just after 9am he lost control of his Porsche Cayman S at more than 200km/h, became airborne and crashed into a tree.

During five days of public hearings coroner Simon Cooper was told Mr Mansell had been drinking wine the night before his death but that the level of intoxication at the time of the crash was not great enough to have impaired his driving ability.

However, Mr Cooper on Wednesday highlighted that the crash would not have occurred if Mr Mansell's blood-alcohol level had been tested.

"He should not have been allowed to start the stage at all," the coroner said.

"However, the presence of alcohol in his blood was not detected as he was not required to undertake a breath test before competing for the first stage."

Subsequently the coroner's eight recommendations included an upgrade of the current random alcohol testing.

"I recommend that there be compulsory alcohol testing for all competitors before all stages, in all future events," he said.

A married business owner, Mr Mansell died as the result of neck, chest and abdomen injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash near Deloraine.

His navigator Tristan Catford was seriously injured but has since recovered and gave evidence at the inquest.

The coroner suggested the use of head and neck support devices be mandated as compulsory for all competitors and that first-time entrants sit through a special briefing.

In regards to the rally course, Mr Cooper said consideration should be given to employing a safety assessor and that there be a formal review of design and safety after each event.

A speed-limiting device, or chicane, should have been considered for the straight section of road leading up to the crest where Mr Mansell's Porsche became airborne, the coroner said.

But due to contractual agreements governing the rally, it was not.

"I recommend that the contractual prohibition on the use of chicanes, real or virtual, be dispensed with," he added.