A spectator has died in an accident at the Donegal International Rally on Saturday and the remainder of the event has been cancelled.
A joint statement from governing body Motorsport Ireland and rally organisers Donegal Motor Club confirmed a “young male spectator has passed away” following an accident on the 12th stage.
The accident occurred in the first pass of the Gartan stage of the rally on Saturday afternoon, which was the 12th of 20 in the three-day event – one of the biggest motorsport events on the island of Ireland.
Two spectators were taken to Letterkenny University Hospital and the rally was halted after the incident.
A decision to cancel the rest of the rally was taken as a mark of respect by organisers.
Motorsport Ireland and Donegal Motor Club said they “express their deepest sympathies to the family of the deceased” and asked that their privacy is respected.
Motorsport Ireland and the An Garda Siochana have started an investigation into the circumstances of the accident.
It is the first fatality at the Donegal International Rally since three-time winner Manus Kelly died in a crash in 2019.
Kris Meeke, a five-time winner in the World Rally Championship, was leading the rally ahead of Callum Devine and Josh McErlean before it was stopped.