The family of young rally driver, Timothy Cathcart who died while taking part in the Ulster Rally on Friday want to help promote safety in motorsport in his memory.

Speaking to the Impartial Reporter this week as they struggled to cope with their grief, his parents, Ian and Karena, said they have had the satisfaction of knowing they did everything possible to ensure Timothy’s safety was paramount at all times but said the freak accident had robbed them of a promising young businessman and someone who lit up their lives.

While motorsport was synonymous with the Cathcart family name, Ian and Karena said they had never encouraged Timothy to pursue the sport but when they could not dissuade him from it, they ensured he was guided in the best way possible, employing the services of Dai Roberts, a top co-driver and equipping him with the best possible equipment and aids to ensure his and others’ safety.

Ian, a rally driver for many years who also competed in the British Rally Championship, said he never encouraged Timothy to take up the sport but that it was Timothy’s wish to do so.

“For us, safety was paramount and we ensured he had a proper factory fitted spec car and he had a top co-driver,” Ian said.

Timothy brought great pride to his family through his exploits in rallying and in many other spheres of his life but one of the most abiding memories which Ian will have will be the last time he saw him.

“I spoke to him after he had a presentational start at the back of the Townhall and a short service stage at St. Angelo and the last time I saw him was in Clogher when he went through to the third stage with his thumbs up.

“I had told him he doesn’t have to win. He’s a rookie and just to get the message across we were not pushing him. Dai and I would have been saying that to him,” said Ian.

The tragedy is even more poignant for Dai Roberts as his brother died in a rallying accident two years ago.

The family had asked for donations in lieu of flowers to go to charity. Now they are considering the best possible way to celebrate Timothy’s life and to ensure his legacy lives on.

“We’d like to work with the motorsport organisations so that something good comes out of this that links in with the positive side of rallying. We want to support an organisation that would enforce safety in rallying,” explained Ian.

They may be considering something on the lines of a Timothy Cathcart Foundation or working with an existing safety charity.

However the family pointed out that Timothy’s life extended far beyond motorsport.

“He just loved the world out there,” said Karena. Ian commented: “He was such a bridge-builder and he had the ability to help solve situations beyond his years.” The family was overwhelmed at the support through the hundreds of people who attended the funeral and from the many cards, letters and messages on social media. Looking through cards from rally stars such as Oisin Pryce, currently one of the leaders of the British Rally Championship and online message from Kris Meeke, who is competing at world level, Enniskillen Motor Club and politicians including Deputy First Minister, Martin McGuinness, they say they have given them great comfort at this time.