Rally champion given driving ban

Elfyn Evans appealed against his conviction and sentence last Thursday

One of the UK's top young rally drivers has been banned from driving for a year, it has emerged.

Gwynedd's Elfyn Evans, 19, son of former British champion Gwyndaf, has lost an appeal against a conviction for dangerous driving.

He had been convicted in June following an incident in Cheshire.

It is uncertain at present how the driving ban will affect his career, but rally cars have to use public roads in between event stages.

Mr Evans, who won the Fiesta Sporting Trophy (FST) championship last month, was ordered to sit an extended driving test following the ban.

Mr Evans, from the Gwynedd village of Dinas Mawddwy, near Machynlleth, said he had no comment to make at the moment following last week's hearing at Chester Crown Court.

Talented drivers

He was accused of dangerous driving in Cheshire earlier this year and was convicted and sentenced at Halton Magistrates' Court, near Runcorn, on 16 June.

He appealed against his conviction and sentence at Chester Crown Court last Thursday, but it was dismissed.

The rally driver won the eight-round FST series following rallies in England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland and the Isle of Man.

The championship is designed to help the most talented drivers take the first step on the way to a professional rally career.

The FST has been asked to comment about Mr Evans' driving ban.

The disqualification is a further blow for Mr Evans and his co-driver Gareth Roberts.

In June, the pair were involved in a crash during a rally in Ireland which left 18-year-old spectator Richard McGrath dead. No police action was taken following the incident.

Mr Evans' father Gwyndaf was British rally champion in 1996.