Rising British star Roberts, 24, killed in crash during Sicily rally
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UPDATED:
15:03 GMT, 16 June 2012
Rising Welsh rally star Gareth Roberts has been killed in a crash during the Targa Florio rally in Sicily.
The 24-year-old, from Carmarthen, was navigator in a Peugeot 207 being driven by Irishman Craig Breen which crashed on the eighth stage of the event.
Emergency crews attended the scene but Roberts died as a result of his injuries the series organisers, the Intercontinental Rally Challenge, reported on its website.
Rising star: Roberts (right) died on Saturday
As a mark of respect the IRC called off the remainder of the event.
A statement from IRC said: 'On stage
eight of Targa Florio-Rally Internazionale Di Sicilia there was an
accident involving car number 15, Craig Breen and Gareth Roberts, which
resulted in the stage being stopped to enable medical crews to attend
the scene.
'Despite their best efforts, Gareth
Roberts succumbed to his injuries and the remainder of the event has
been cancelled as a mark of respect. Craig Breen was unhurt in the
accident. No spectators were involved.
'Intercontinental Rally Challenge
promoter Eurosport Events joins the IRC community in offering its
sincere condolences to Gareth's family and friends who are in our
thoughts at this very sad time.'
Breen and Roberts were lying sixth in the rally after seven stages when the accident took place.
IRC Manager Jean-Pierre Nicolas
said: 'It's a very sad accident that reminds us that motorsport is
dangerous: accidents can affect both driver and co-driver in rallying.
'As the president of the Automobile
Club Palermo, Antonio Marasco, said after the accident, the Targa Florio
is an event where many great champions have left us in the past, and
sadly this has happened again.
'The death of a 24-year-old young man at the start of a fantastic career is always a tragedy.
'From the start of this year,
together with Craig Breen, Gareth has put in some excellent performances
and the crew really got themselves noticed.
'There's no doubt in my mind that these performances would have got even better.
'At this terrible time, I'm thinking
very much of Gareth's family, to whom all of us at Eurosport Events pass
on our sincere condolences.'
