Indian rally driver SD Roy suffered misfortune in the fourth round of the Hankook 205 Challenge, the Swansea Bay Rally, on Saturday as he failed to finish following a big accident.

Milton Keynes-based Roy and co-driver Martyn Taylor were on stage two of the event, the Resolven test, which is also used on Wales Rally GB, the British round of the World Rally Championship, when their Peugeot 205 Gti left the road before hitting a tree head-on and coming to an abrupt halt.

Roy and Taylor got out of the car but were airlifted to a nearby hospital shortly afterwards for check-ups with Taylor being kept in for two nights for observation.

The car caught fire following the incident and burnt out inside. It is the second time in succession that 32-year-old Roy has not finished in the 205 Challenge this season after a clutch problem meant he retired from the Mid Wales Stages in June.

"It was a dramatic day for us but all that matters is that we're both alright," said Calcutta-born Roy. "I was shocked by the accident. We were about to turn a fast right hand corner but the car got dragged to the left and off the stage into the forest.

"The car is completely burnt out and was reduced to ashes inside but I'm going to see if I can borrow a car or maybe if it is possible, get it rebuilt, as I hope to do the remaining two rounds of the Challenge. I'm just glad that both Martyn and I are okay though."

The next round of the 205 Challenge is the Otterburn Stages Rally on September 9 followed by the Plains Rally on September 23.