Tributes have been paid to the two rally drivers who were killed in a crash during a motor sports competition on Friday.

Shawn Rayner and Steve Dear died taking part in the Loco 2 Stages rally held at army training centre Bramley Camp, near Basingstoke.

The pair were members of the Historic Rally Car Register, which said the rallying world was shocked and saddened to hear of the deaths of “two great clubmen”.

Shawn’s navigator and Steve’s son, Declan Dear, said: “The sport has lost a pair of its finest characters and we can only take some solace in the fact they were competing in the sport that they loved so much.

 “We have lost two of our heroes.”

The MSA British Historic Rally Championship also said how Shawn had been a regular BHRC contender over recent seasons, and that Steve had co-driven in the championship many times over the years before his son Declan's co-driving took centre stage.

In a statement on social media the group added: “The terrible accident that befell them is a stark reminder of the inherent danger in the sport we all love.

“On behalf of everyone involved in the BHRC and across historic rallying, we offer our sincere sympathies to their families and many friends in the sport.”

Motor Sports Association are now working with the police and event organisers to establish what happened at the private rally event.