If the death of Aussie icon Steve Irwin wasn't enough this past week, then the news of Australia's greatest ever Motorsport identity - Peter Brock - being tragically killed in a motorsport incident today in Western Australia - could well have ripped Australia's heart apart even further.

While his fame was carved as a V8 Touring Car driver, it was well known in Drag Racing folklore that 'Peter Perfect' collected the odd quarter mile time-slip or two and enjoyed the odd Drag Racing sojourn through the years.

"Even though he wasn't fundamentally a Drag Racer, I think the tragic passing of Peter Brock will send shockwaves throughout all forms of motorsport. He was loved by all in this country," said Western Sydney International Dragway CEO Jim Read.

"He set a standard in on-track performances. However I think it was his continually positive attitude and friendliness to the general public where Brocky really shone. He was so approachable to anyone. It's a sad, tragic day."

It's understood the crash occurred while Brock was taking part in the Targa West rally in Western Australia.

Brock, 61, was driving with Mick Hone in a Daytona Coupe.

The circumstances of the accident remain unclear.

The Targa West takes place over four days and is divided into two categories, competition and challenge, th e latter catering for relatively standard specification road cars.

The rally began in Perth yesterday.

Brock, from Melbourne, was married with three children.

In a stellar career, he became Australia's best known motor sports personality and a dominant figure in the sport.

The Confederation of Australian Motor Sport (CAMS) said in a statement the accident occurred at about 1.50pm (AEST).

Targa West is a tarmac special stage rally.

Brock was a dominant figure in Australian motor sport, winning the Bathurst 1000, Australia's most prominent domestic motorsport event, a total of nine times through the 1970s and 80s.

He won six Bathurst 1000 wins in seven years, including his victory in the 1979 event, which he won by a record six laps.

He retired from full-time driving in 1997.

Since 1997, he had made two return visits to Bathurst in 2002 and 2004 and returned to top-level touring car racing as a team owner of "Team Brock" in 2002 in the V8 Supercar category. A year later he sold his share in the team to Kees Weel.

In recent years, he occasionally competed in various motorsport events such as the Targa Tasmania.

On behalf of everyone at Western Sydney International Dragway and the Australian Drag Racing fraternity, our thoughts and best wishes go to Peter Brock's family and closest friends at this terrible time.

Peter Brock - gone, but will always remain the king of the mountain.