The New Zealand motorsport community lost two of their own over the weekend, with a tragic single-vehicle incident at the Arcadia Road Rallysprint claiming the lives of driver Brooklyn Horan and co-driver Tyson Zane Jemmett.
The duo are being recognised through tributes shared across social media honouring their contributions to the sport.
Jemmett, a 35-year-old commercial director at Stuff known as a “rallying tragic” by friends, dedicated much of his life to the sport he loved, whether driving, co-driving, volunteering or simply sharing his unrivalled passion for the dirt.
His occupation also presented the opportunity to push the sport into mainstream media, something that 2023 European Rally Championship winner Hayden Paddon recognised in a tribute shared on social media on Monday evening.
“Tyson, you were one of the true passionate rally fans,” said Paddon.
“I remember you at the WRC events throughout 2017 and 2018, waving the Kiwi flag and supporting us through thick and thin, always pushing the sport of rallying forward in the media. A great business, sporting and family man.”
Horan was on his way to making a name for himself in the sport and showed natural talent behind the wheel, whether it be on the dirt or the tarmac.
He was born into motorsport and was never far from the paddock, competing at a young age in Kiwitrucks before progressing to off-road, rally and circuit racing.
Horan was competing full-time in the 2023/24 Toyota 86 Championship, his black and gold TR86 hard to miss and run by Mackenzie Motorsport.
He also had off-road racing experience with family team Big Black Motorsport, taking a debut win in the team’s Polaris in his first off-road enduro, the Peter Howell Memorial Endurance Race.
A class win in Hamilton Car Club’s Hoddle Road Rallysprint and second overall with the class win in the Taranaki Tarmac Rally were among his recent accolades.
Off the track, Horan was also a popular face in any paddock, known for his humble personality and large smile.
The loss will be felt throughout the sport for some time to come, and the team from Velocity News offer their condolences to the families and friends of the victims.
Investigations into the incident are ongoing.
