West Wales co-driver Dai Roberts killed and driver James Williams hurt
Dai Roberts, 39, from Carmarthen, was co-driver for James Williams of Newcastle Emlyn in the Jim Clark Rally when their car crashed near Duns in the Scottish Borders.
James Williams, 27, was taken to hospital with serious injuries which are not thought to be life-threatening.
The pair were in a Hyundai i20N Rally2 as they battled for the lead of the British Rally Championship contest
The tragedy is the second to hit the Roberts family. In 2012, Dai Roberts' younger brother Gareth died aged 24 after a racing accident in Palermo, Italy.
James Williams Rallying posted on Facebook yesterday: 'It is with a heavy heart we have to share this sad news this afternoon.
'The motorsport community is deeply saddened to hear of the passing of our beloved Dai Roberts – who lost his life in an incident at the Jim Clark Rally on Saturday 24 May 2025.
James Williams, from Newcastle Emlyn is in hospital with serious injuries., (Image: James Williams Rallying) 'James has been taken by ambulance to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh with serious but not life-threatening injuries.
'Our thoughts and prayers are with the Roberts family at this difficult time.
'We will provide updates as and when we have them.
'Please respect the privacy of the families and team at this time.'
More than 500 tributes and messages on the page alone show the respect in which Dai Roberts was held throughout the rallying community.
Dai Roberts (left) and James Williams were a formidable motorsport pairing. (Image: Motorsport UK)
Said one sympathiser: 'The only comfort is Dai died doing what he loved.' Another commented: 'A wonderful rally man who will be greatly missed', while a third posted: 'He's now up there with his brother and the rest of the legends in rally motorsport."
International motorsport platform Autosport described Dai Roberts as 'one of the British rallying fraternity's best co-drivers'.
The Jim Clark Rally is an annual closed-road motorsport race in the Scottish Borders.
The event is named after Formula One champion Jim Clark.
In 2014, the event was stopped after the deaths of three people and was cancelled the following year.
It has since been reinstated in the UK racing calendar.
Superintendent Vincent Fisher of Police Scotland said: 'Our thoughts are with the family of the man who has died and inquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances.'
Motorsport UK said: 'Motorsport UK sends its condolences to Dai's family and friends, the Jim Clark Rally, Jim Clark Memorial Motor Club and members of the motorsport community.
'Motorsport UK has initiated a full investigation into the circumstances of the incident and will work closely with the Jim Clark Rally event organisers and Jim Clark Memorial Motor Club and will co-operate with the relevant authorities.'
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