Motorbike racer and former bodybuilder Zef Eisenberg has died aged 47 while attempting to break a British land speed record.

Police confirmed Mr Eisenberg died on the scene at Elvington Airfield in York, where officers were called on Thursday afternoon after a report of a serious vehicle incident. 

“Officers attended with the ambulance service and an investigation is ongoing. Please respect the family’s privacy at this time,” a spokesperson for North Yorkshire Police said Friday.  

Membership organisation Motorsport UK said it was working with local police and the event organiser on a full investigation into the incident.

Motorsport UK said Mr Eisenberg’s car, a Porsche 111 Turbo S, “went out of control at high speed at the end of a run.”

Mr Eisenberg is survived by his partner Mirella D’Antonio and two children, the organisation said, as it honoured the ultra-speed racer and “much-loved member of the motorsport community”.

“The thoughts of everyone at Motorsport UK and within the UK motorsport community continue to be with Zef Eisenberg’s family, the organisers of the event, and other members of the motorsport community who were present at Elvington Airfield,” it said.

Mr Eisenberg founded the country’s largest sports nutrition brand, Maximuscle, which he sold to a pharmaceutical company for £162m in 2011.

The Guernsey-based businessman led the Madmax Race Team, which attempts to engineer motorbikes and other vehicles so that they can set speed records.

Mr Eisenberg, who presented ITV4’s car show Speed Freaks last year, survived a motorbike crash in 2016 while travelling at 234mph, but was back behind the wheel several months later. 

He also held various land speed records, including riding the fastest turbine-powered motorcycle at 225.75 mph, which he achieved in 2015 at Elvington Airfield.

The airfield is a former Royal Air Force station, now used for motorsports events and to shoot film and TV productions.