Today I washed you away: 500 at funeral of racing driver Justin Wilson

Wilson, of of Woodall, near Rotherham, died on August 24 after he was hit on the crash helmet by a flying piece of debris at the Pocono Raceway in Pennsylvania.

Ex-Formula One driver Mark Webber and retired IndyCar racer Dario Franchitti were among the pallbearers as Wilson’s coffin was carried into St James the Great Church in Paulerspury.

A poem written by Julia Wilson, wife of the Sheffield-born racer, entitled ‘Today I washed you away’ was read at the service.

Jonathan Palmer, the former F1 driver who took Wilson on as a protege, delivered a 12-minute eulogy.

Wilson will be cremated at a private service before a reception is held at Silverstone later on Thursday.

Wilson competed in the 2003 Formula One season where he raced for Minardi and Jaguar before moving to America where his career spanned a decade.

Following his death Wilson helped to save six other lives after he donated his organs.