Co-driver dies after crash during Jim Clark rally in Scotland
A co-driver taking part in the Jim Clark rally in Scotland has died after a crash on Saturday morning.
Dai Roberts, 39, was pronounced dead at the scene near Duns in the Scottish Borders.
The driver, James Williams, 27, was taken to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh with serious but not life-threatening injuries.
The rally's organisers, the Jim Clark Memorial Motor Club, said the remainder of the event and Sunday's Jim Clark Reivers rally had been cancelled.
The Jim Clark rally is an annual closed-road motor sport race named after the late Formula One champion Jim Clark, who was killed in an accident in Hockenheim, Germany, in 1968.
Supt 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, the sport's governing body, said it 'sends its condolences to Dai's family and friends, the Jim Clark rally, Jim Clark Memorial Motor Club and members of the motor sport 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 cooperate with the relevant authorities.'
Roberts, from Carmarthen, survived a crash in 2014 which killed a 20-year-old driver, Timothy Cathcart, while taking part in the Ulster rally in Belfast.
Roberts' younger brother, Gareth, died aged 24 after a racing accident in Palermo, southern Italy, in 2012.
About 260 competitors were expected to compete at the event in the Scottish Borders over the weekend.
In a team statement, James Williams Rallying said: 'It is with a heavy heart, we have to share this sad news.
'The motor sport community is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of our beloved Dai Roberts. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Roberts family at this difficult time.'
In 2014, three spectators were killed and six more were injured at the event when two cars lost control and veered into viewing areas.
The rally returned five years later in 2019 after 'rigorous steps' were taken to ensure safety.
First held in 1970, the closed-road event is a round of the Probite British rally championship, Asset Alliance Group Scottish rally championship and Protyre national asphalt championship.
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