A car rally competitor has died in a horror smash at an event in Scotland – just years after his younger brother and former teammate also died in crashes.Â
Co-driver Dai Roberts, 39, from Wales, who was taking part in the Jim Clark Rally, near Duns in the Scottish Borders, died at the scene today, police have said.
He was navigating a Hyundai i20 N Rally2 car driven by James Williams when it crashed at around 10.50am during round three of the British Rally Championship.
The tragedy is the latest to befall Mr Roberts’ family after his younger brother, Gareth, lost his life in an accident while competing in the Targa Florio Rally in Sicily, Italy, in June 2012.
His former driver also died in August 2014 when the pair were involved in a horror smash in the Ulster Rally in Northern Ireland.
Timothy Cathcart was killed and Roberts was airlifted to hospital in Belfast following the crash.
Emergency services raced to the scene in Berwickshire today but Mr Roberts, who had been acting as a navigator at the time of the incident, could not be saved.
The 27-year-old driver of the car – James Williams – was taken to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh with serious, but not life-threatening, injuries.
Dai Roberts, right, has been named as the victim of a fatal crash at the Jim Clark Rally
The tragedy comes after the family lost Mr Roberts’ younger brother Gareth in 2012. The brothers are pictured, above, at an event more than a decade ago.
Police closed off the road near Duns following the fatal crash at the Jim Clark Rally
Organisers, the Jim Clark Memorial Motor Club, said the remainder of today’s event and tomorrow’s Jim Clark Reivers Rally event have been cancelled.
In a team statement, James Williams Rallying said: ‘It is with a heavy heart, we have to share this sad news this afternoon.
‘The motorsport 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 a statement 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 cooperate with the relevant authorities.’
Police Scotland superintendent Vincent Fisher said: ‘Our thoughts are with the family of the man who has died and inquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances.’
Tributes have poured in for Mr Roberts from across the motorsporting world.
Sambo Collis said in a post online: ‘Can’t believe I’m typing this.
Gareth Roberts died while competing in the Targa Florio Rally in Sicily, Italy, in June 2012.
In an interview with the BBC in 2015 Mr Roberts said he continued to race following his brother’s death because ‘it’s a way of life’ and that his brother would have wanted him to go on
‘The first time I met Dai was on the classic tracks some 20 years ago, he made us feel very welcome competing in South Wales, from then on I was happy to class him as a mate.
‘A wicked sense of humour, a fantastic co driver and a lunatic behind the wheel! What rallying has put the poor Roberts family through certainly makes you question things.’
Nick Young added: ‘Rest in peace Dai, you’re finally reunited with Gareth Roberts, Craig Breen, and Timmy, my thoughts are with your family and friends sir.
‘It was a pleasure to know you. James Williams Rallying I wish you a speedy recovery.’
Mr Roberts was part of a rallying family. As well as his younger brother’s achievements, his father Mike Roberts was a regular competitor in British rallying since the late 1980s.
In an interview with the BBC in 2015, Mr Roberts had discussed his desire to keep racing despite the death of his younger brother.
He himself had by that time been involved in another tragic crash in which the driver of the car he was in – Timothy Cathcart – was killed.
He said: ‘It’s a bug. As soon as you’ve got it, it doesn’t matter what happens in life and everything because you’ve still got to go and do it because it’s a way of life for you at the end of the day.’
He added: ‘With the danger part of it, to be honest, we don’t see the danger because when you’re in a car you’re there to do a job and that’s it.
Timothy Cathcart (pictured) was killed and Roberts was airlifted to hospital in Belfast following a crash in 2014Â
Picture shows Gareth Roberts’ damaged car in Sicily, Italy, in 2012
‘If there’s a 300-foot drop to your left and side you don’t see it. You are there to drive on the road and that’s it.’
Mr Roberts even spoke about how he took the harrowing phone call informing him of his brother’s death.
He said: ‘I actually had the phone call saying what had happened and had to phone mum and dad.’
He added: ‘It has been an uphill struggle at times. The way we see it is that [Gareth] would never want us to stop doing anything and would always push you to carry on in life.’
More than 200 people were expected to compete in the Jim Clark rally over the weekend.
The event, which was first held in 1970, is named after Formula One champion, Jim Clark who grew up in the Scottish Borders.
In 2014, three spectators Iain Provan, Elizabeth Allan and Len Stern were killed and six more were injured near Coldstream, Berwickshire, when two cars lost control and veered into a viewing area.
A fatal accident inquiry later found the deaths could have been prevented if people had been clearly banned from standing in the area where the crash happened.
The event finally returned in 2019, after ‘rigorous steps’ were taken to ensure safety.
