One of the country's most respected motorsport journalists and a founding director of the McLaren racing team has died.

Eoin Young died in Christchurch Hospital as a result of cancer.

He was an Autocar columnist for some 30 years, from 1967.

He was 75.

Classic Driver editor and long-time friend Tony Haycock says he had a long and storied career.

"His career basically started as Bruce McLaren's secretary even though neither of them quite knew what a secretary to a Grand Prix driver was going to be, but that's how it all started out."