RALLYING: Dramatic crash for Rugby's rally-driver Ashleigh

The Ford Fiesta after the crash at Knockhill PICTURES BY SMJ PHOTOGRAPHY

Rugby rally driver Ashleigh Morris crashed out of Round 3 of the Motorsport News Circuit Rally Championship in dramatic style.

Ashleigh and co-driver Jamie, both originally from Scotland, were hoping for a good result after finishing 2nd in class at their home track, Knockhill Racing Circuit, last year.

Going well at Knockhill before their dramatic crash

They had a positive start to the rally and at lunchtime after the first four stages they were sitting 19th overall.

However their rally came to an unfortunate end on stage 5 when they clipped a tyre at speed at the Arnold Clark chicane.

Ashleigh said: “We were really pleased with the pace we had but unfortunately when we clipped the tyre it launched the car into the air, we rolled three times and then hit the barrier.

“Fortunately Jamie and I are both ok and we were able to get out of the car quickly then stand with the marshals until the car was recovered at the end of stage 6.

Ashleigh Morris at the Motorsport News Circuit Rally Championship media day in September

“We were checked out by the medics just to be safe but are both absolutely fine.

“Unfortunately there is extensive damage to the car - the radiator and significant bodywork damage.

“My seat also moved as the bracket bent with the impact. The car has already been stripped and is in the body shop so we are hoping that the team can get the car ready for the next round of the championship at Brands Hatch on January 18.”

You can follow Ashleigh’s progress in the 2018/19 Motorsport News Circuit Rally Championship on http://ashleighmorris.com/ or by visiting https://www.facebook.com/AshleighMorrisRallying/ or https://www.instagram.com/ashleigh_morris/

Ashleigh and Jamie were awarded the Spirit of Rally trophy at Knockhill

You can also watch the crash footage - from both inside and outside the car on YouTube.

The links are:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T7bG_8uQyGo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5JmIj4txgM0

# Ashleigh moved down to the Midlands initially do her Masters in Automotive Journalism at Coventry University.

She has worked for Jaguar Land Rover for five years, currently in digital marketing based at Gaydon, near Warwick.

Having started rallying in the co-drivers’ seat she competed as a driver for the first time in 2016. She finished 2nd in Class A in the MSN Rally Championship in 2016/17, in a hired Fiat Punto, then moved up to the 1600cc Ford Fiesta R200 last year, finishing 2nd in Class B.

Currently supported by Real System Controls Limited, the team are seeking additional partners for the 2018/19 season.

The Motorsport News Circuit Rally Championship involves eight rounds at some of the UK’s top circuits from November to April.