Australian sidecar driver Dwight Beare has been killed following an accident near Rhencullen during a Sidecar race at the Isle of Man TT.

Originally from Melbourne, but more recently an Isle of Man resident, the 27-year-old made his TT Races debut in 2014.

Beare’s passenger Benjamin Binns, from the Isle of Man, was airlifted to Nobles Hospital where he was described as being stable with a fractured ankle.

The race was immediately red flagged.

Beare achieved a 12th place in his second race on the Isle of Man when he competed with father Noel as his passenger.

The pair returned to the Isle of Man TT last year, achieving a 17th place in the first sidecar race.

It proved to be a sombre opening day of the TT following the news of Paul Shoesmith’s death after an accident on the Sulby Straight during the evening’s solo practice.

The session was abandoned.

Shoesmith made his TT Races debut in 2005 and had a highest placed finish of 15th on the TT Mountain Course in both the Superbike and Senior Races in 2011.

He also achieved finishes of eighth and 11th in the 2008 and 2009 Lightweight TT Races.

Early in the day he achieved his fastest ever lap around the TT Mountain Course in the Superbike Race and finished 29th.

Organisers, ACU Events Ltd, passed on their deepest sympathy to family and friends of both racers.