A 65-year-old vintage racing car driver died when his 1949 Bentley careered off a course after crossing the finish line and crashed into a tree, an inquest heard.

Robert Bradley, of Frog Lane, Milton-under-Wychwood, was competing in an individual timed sprint meeting, organised by the Austin Martin Owners' Club at Cornbury Park, near Charlbury, when the accident happened on September 3 last year.

He was taken to the John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, where he died from chest injuries.

William Verdon-Smith, of Lower Road, Salisbury, who was also taking part in the event, said: "I was standing with a group of other drivers watching the finishing line when all of a sudden we saw the Bentley leave the course.

"It then hit the tree more or less head-on. The impact caused the car to bounce off the tree and spin through 90 degrees."

He said Mr Bradley was thrown forwards, hitting the steering wheel, which caused him to be partly thrown on to the bonnet.

Mr Bradley was not wearing a seat belt, but the inquest heard that people racing vintage cars did not wear harnesses because they could be trapped if the car rolled over.

Mr Verdon-Smith, who was in second place behind Mr Bradley in the time trials, said his rival would have been travelling at 90mph at the finish.

Sgt Michael Sanders, from the traffic accident investigation team, based in Bicester, said: "The reason why the vehicle left the course is not clear -- there are no mechanical reasons why it should have done."

He said the narrower road after the finish, the absence of hay bales around trees after the stop line and the short distance between the finish and marked stop line might have contributed to the accident.

The clerk of the course, Tim Hassall, said the track had been inspected by the Motor Sports Association to ensure it was safe.

Deputy coroner Dorothy Flood recorded a verdict of accidental death.

She said she would write to the MSA about the possibility of introducing seat belts at such events.