West Wales co-driver Dai Roberts killed and driver James Williams hurt
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.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Auto Car
41 minutes ago
- Auto Car
Allroad to Nowhere: what happened to lifted estates?
I can't quite believe it: there are now no lifted estate cars on sale in the UK. With confirmation that the new Subaru Outback won't be coming here, they're all gone. What ever happened to the Seat Leon X-Perience, Vauxhall Insignia Country Tourer and Toyota Corolla Trek? Then there was the Skoda Octavia and Superb Scout duo, Mercedes' All-Terrains, Volkswagen's Alltracks, Volvo's Cross Countrys and Audi's Allroads. If they're seemingly so unpopular, why do I love them? First, a history lesson – and it starts with, of all people, the Americans. A nation of households owning multiple land yachts creating a new segment for practical compact cars. Enter, in 1979, the AMC Eagle Wagon, with raised suspension and full-time four-wheel drive. It was another original idea from an ingenious company fighting 'the big three' on a shoestring. The Eagle struck a chord with buyers in rural and snow-prone areas – before being killed by Chrysler's purchase and eventual shuttering of AMC. Spiritual successors followed in the form of the 1994 Subaru Legacy Outback (the model that really kick-started the trend), the 1997 Volvo V70 XC and 1999's A6-based Audi Allroad. Soon everybody was at it: Peugeot had the 508 RXH, Saab the 9-3 X and Alfa Romeo the 156 Crosswagon, to name a few more. To me, such cars present themselves as the perfect all-rounders. That is to say, slightly more versatile estates. They combine the benefits of better handling, fuel consumption and styling with the all-terrain ability of an SUV. In fact, most of them could probably outperform the average school-run SUV on the rough stuff. And yet despite the number on offer, they were never actually that popular. I suppose that sensible estate car customers don't need four-wheel-drive capabilities (let's be honest, with modern tyres, pretty much no one does) and SUV buyers like theirs purely because they enjoy sitting higher up than other road users. As a result, they're now all gone in this country (bar a few more months of the front-wheel-drive Ford Focus Active Estate and the six-figure Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo), and even in Europe Mercedes and Audi are the only ones still pursuing the idea.
Rhyl Journal
15 hours ago
- Rhyl Journal
Chris Evans' CarFest moving to Silverstone for 2026
The event, which usually takes place at Laverstoke Park Farm in Hampshire, was set up by Virgin Radio UK host Evans, 59, in the 2010s to showcase live music and motoring track shows. From next August, the event moves to Silverstone, the Northamptonshire motor racing circuit that is home to Formula One's British Grand Prix and where scenes from Brad Pitt's F1 movie were filmed. Evans said: 'This move opens up possibilities we've never had before, more space, more cars, more ways to surprise and delight our audience and most importantly, an opportunity to raise even more money for UK children's charities. A post shared by CarFest (@carfestevent) 'The heart of CarFest will always be the same, with charitable fundraising and entertainment, providing unforgettable experiences for all ages, at the core of our mission. As one of the UK's premier entertainment destinations, Silverstone gives us the perfect stage for the next chapter in our story.' He said: 'I wanted to share this incredibly exciting news today, so anyone who wants to join us and say farewell to the amazing home we have had at Laverstoke Park Farm has the opportunity to join us for one last amazing party there this coming weekend. 'Together, we can deliver an even bigger and better event while raising vital funds for charity.' This year's line-up includes music from rock band The Boomtown Rats and Scottish outfit Travis and talks with a number of chefs, wellness experts and more. Silverstone chief executive Stuart Pringle said: 'Silverstone has evolved into a year-round destination for world-class events, and we are thrilled to be working with CarFest for next year's event. 'For more than a decade, CarFest has inspired a devoted community of fans, becoming a true highlight of the British festival calendar. As the ultimate summer celebration, blending music, motors, food, family fun, and unforgettable experiences, CarFest is a perfect fit for Silverstone.' CarFest has run annually since 2012, with the exception of 2020, when it was cancelled due to the Covid pandemic. The 2026 CarFest at Silverstone will take place over the August Bank Holiday weekend, August 27-30, with tickets and further details to be announced soon. CarFest 2025 is taking place between August 22 and August 24 at Laverstoke Park Farm.
Economist
16 hours ago
- Economist
Gangs are using increasingly sophisticated kit to steal cars
IMAGINE MEETING a seasoned British car thief in 2013. They would probably have cut a sorry figure. Every year of their career, the grind had got harder. The tools of their trade, such as a coat hanger or 'slim jim' (a flat metal strip) for bypassing locks and strippers for manipulating ignition wires, had, slowly but surely, been rendered obsolete, thanks to improved security technology. Business had dried up.
