Rally driver in fatal race crash

Elfyn Evans was racing in the Ford Fiesta Sporting Trophy

The rally driver son of former British champion Gwyndaf Evans was involved in a crash in Ireland at the weekend which left an 18-year-old spectator dead.

Elfyn Evans, 19, was taking part in the Donegal International Rally on Saturday when his Ford Fiesta was in collision with Richard O'Donnell.

Mr Evans, from the Gwynedd village of Dinas Mawddwy, near Machynlleth, and co-driver Gareth Roberts were unhurt.

Mr O'Donnell, known as Richard McGrath, was from Strabane in Northern Ireland.

The police in the Republic of Ireland, the Gardaí, have appealed for witnesses to contact them, and are still investigating the crash.

Mr Evans and Mr Roberts, who is from Carmarthen, were competing in the Ford Fiesta Sporting Trophy, an event they are jointly leading.

Richard O'Donnell was from Strabane in County Tyrone

The pairing won the previous round which was staged near Builth Wells, in mid Wales, at the beginning of June.

A spokesman for the Ford Fiesta Sporting Trophy confirmed Mr Evans was driving the car involved in Saturday's incident.

He said: "The organisers of the Fiesta Sporting Trophy were shocked and saddened to hear of this tragic accident that occurred during the Donegal Rally and our thoughts are with the family and friends of the spectator who died so tragically.

"The private team concerned is cooperating fully with the rally organisers in their investigation of the accident."

Tragedy

The crash happened on the second day of the three-day annual rally, which attracts up to 50,000 spectators.

It is understood Mr O'Donnell was knocked down at about 1445 BST on Saturday.

The rally was immediately suspended following the collision, and Sunday's racing was cancelled as a mark of respect.

It is not the first time that tragedy has struck at the Donegal rally.

In 2002, two race marshals were killed when a rally car left the road and struck a crowd of spectators.

Gwyndaf Evans was British rally champion in 1996.