A rally driver has died and another is in hospital following a crash on the Isle of Mull yesterday.
Andy Mort, 47, was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics.
John MacCrone, 26, suffered serious injuries and was airlifted to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow.
The men were participating in the annual Mull Rally, which sees 150 cars take part in high-speed stages over three days.
MacCrone, from Mull, was driving and Mort, who was also from the island, was his co-driver.
Two drivers were also taken to hospital on Friday after a crash, according to a statement on the event’s official Facebook page.
It said: “Tommy Graham and co-driver Mike Bailey involved in big crash on SS2 in their Mitsubishi Evo. Both being taken to hospital for checks. Driver complaining of a sore shoulder, co-driver ok.
“But it was a big crash: rolled 4 or 5 times, landed on roof on the road and blocked the stage.”
Shortly after the fatal crash on Saturday, organisers announced that the weekend event had been abandoned.
Road policing officers are investigating the incident, which happened shortly after 1pm.
They have asked spectators to hand over mobile phone footage of the crash.
Sergeant Archie McGuire of Argyll and West Dunbartonshire Divisional Road Policing Unit, who is leading the inquiry, said: “For the spectators and participants of the annual Mull Rally, this has been a desperately saddening event. We are working closely with the event organisers in investigating the incident.
“Specialist officers are at the scene and have begun the process of determining the circumstances which have led to this crash.
“We thank those who have been in contact with police at the scene to pass on information and to give statements. We would ask for anyone else who has not yet given a statement to contact officers at the Road Policing Unit at Dumbarton on the 101 number. We would be grateful to receive any mobile phone footage that spectators may have as part of our ongoing enquiries.”
In a statement, the Motor Sports Association said: “As with any serious incident in or around UK motor sports, the MSA is now working with the event organisers and relevant authorities to establish precisely what happened on this occasion.
“The MSA is saddened by this tragic incident and sends its condolences to the family and friends of the co-driver, and offers its best wishes to the driver for a full recovery.”
The Scottish Government ordered a review of motorsport event safety after the deaths of three spectators at the Jim Clark Rally in 2014.
Iain Provan, 64; Elizabeth Allan, 63; and Len Stern, 71, died at the event in the Borders after a car veered off the road.
A spectator was also killed at the Snowman Rally in the Highlands in 2013. Joy Robson, 50, of Skye died and an eight-year-old boy was injured.
The review’s recommendations included the introduction of a mandatory marshal licensing scheme, new rules on assisting cars back onto the road, improved communication with spectators and the adoption of international standards for identifying low, medium and high risk spectator areas.
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