Richard Anthony Fall, Tony to his team mates, friends and the generations of would-be rally drivers he inspired, suffered a heart attack and passed away peacefully in his sleep. At the time he was in Africa visiting the Classic Safari Rally.

(Tony with Yvonne Mehta)

Aged 67 yet looking as fit and as well as a 40 year old, the relaxed Yorkshireman had been a “works” driver with BMC, Datsun, Ford, Lancia, Peugeot and VW in a career that included all the world’s classic rallies and long distance marathons.

One of his earliest results was 18th overall on the RAC Rally of Great Britain in 1972 in a Datsun 240Z – the model of car he used up to recent times in Historic rallies.

Tony also drove for the Opel Team and eventually went onto to establish Dealer Opel Team in the UK before moving to Germany to take responsibility for all of Opel’s motorsport activities.

Most of his professional career was in the company of fellow Yorkshireman Mike Wood and later with Mike Broad, from Lichfield in Staffordshire.

Tony also co-drove himself, notably for one of the original “Flying Finns” Rauno Aaltonen on the 1972 Safari Rally, in a Datsun 240Z.

How poignant then, that at his time of Tony’s passing, Mike Broad and Rauno Aaltonen were together, in Cardiff, to mark the 75th Anniversary of Rally GB.

Wales Rally GB sends its condolences to Tony's family and many friends