Gareth Roberts was teamed Saturday with Irish driver Craig Breen in the second stage of the rally when their Peugeot 207 went off the road about 5 miles from the start of the Cefalu leg. Roberts was sitting on the side of the car that hit a guard rail.

Targa Florio says on its Web site that nearby emergency crews responded immediately but Roberts died instantly. Breen was unhurt.

Organizers immediately ended the rally, which was in its 96th edition. The 105-mile Targa Florio this year became part of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge, taking the place of Hungary's Mecsek Rally.