Sunday 3rd August 2008
F1 engineer commits suicide
A Renault Formula One engineer is believed to have shot himself at the team's headquarters, police confirmed on Saturday.
Thames Valley Police said they are not treating the death of William Millar as suspicious, after he was found on a footpath within the grounds of the Whiteways Research Centre, near Enstone, Oxfordshire.
A police spokeswoman today confirmed the body was identified by the Oxfordshire coroner as that of the 53-year-old research and development engineer, of Minster Lovell, Oxfordshire.
His body was discovered shortly after 11am on Wednesday after staff heard a gunshot, she said. Millar was found with a single head wound.
The apparent suicide came days before the Hungarian Grand Prix in Budapest this weekend where Renault drivers Fernando Alonso and Nelson Piquet Jr will take to the track.
Renault issued a tribute to Millar following his death.
"Everyone at the team is deeply shocked to lose such a valued member of staff who had been with the team for 27 years.
"Before the team was taken over by Renault, he worked for Benetton Formula One. We have a very large site but it happened within the premises on a footpath.
"Known as Bill, he was involved in designing anything that can improve the car."
Local reports said Millar was a married father of two.
