A REVIEW group probing motorsport safety following the deaths of three spectators at this year’s Jim Clark Rally has returned interim findings.

The group was established by the Scottish Government to “examine safety, specifically spectator safety, at motor sport events in Scotland and make recommendations to improve safety for future events”.

Spectators Iain Provan, 64, and Elizabeth Allan, 63, both of Barrhead, and John Leonard Stern, 71, of Bearsden, were killed during Saturday’s stages of this year’s Jim Clark Rally in May.

The interim findings recommend that safety delegate post is created as well as additional training for marshals and a warning system for spectators.

Local MSP Jim Hume welcomed the findings. He said: “I welcome these interim findings. It’s vitally important that communities in the Borders and its visitors are able to enjoy the Jim Clark rally safely. The tragic events of this year must never happen again.

“A number of early recommendations have been made such as creating the post of safety delegate, including safety plans in governing body regulations, and looking at extra and specific safety training for marshals and volunteers.

“It’s also being proposed that new measures should be taken to alert spectators when each stage of a rally goes live. The final recommendations will be published later this year.”