RACING driver Martin Brundle can thank a Darwen-based firm for its part in his dramatic escape from a 185 mph Grand Prix crash.

Many of the ultra-strong components that make up his Formula One car were manufactured by the Brookhouse Group.

Brundle escaped unhurt after the crash on the first lap of the Australian Grand Prix opener, despite his car somersaulting, landing upside down and rolling over four times.

The crash was a spectacular endorsement of the new carbon fibre components for the Benson & Hedges Total Jordan Peugeot team cars which were manufactured at Brookhouse's Cambridgeshire works.

John Fryer of the Brookhouse Group, based at India Mill said: "It was an horrific crash but the components obviously did their job.

"This year's design of the chassis was more advanced and complex than in previous years and had to be manufactured in a very short timescale."

Staff at the firm are waiting for the parts from the crashed car to be returned for inspection.

From a manufacturing point of view, it's very important to see the effects of that sort of crash."

The Brookhouse Group supplies carbon fibre parts for the aerospace, defence and automobile industry and has been involved with Formula One for many years.

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