A NEW exhibition will open next week to commemorate the late Tom Pryce, the only Welshman to have won a Formula One race but who was tragically killed in a racing crash.

The exhibition held at Denbigh Museum will celebrate the life and career of the Ruthin-born motor racer, who won the non-championship F1 Brands Hatch Race of Champions in 1975.

He also briefly held the lead during the British Grand Prix in the same year.

But in 1977 he was killed at the age of 27 at the South African Grand Prix, when he collided with a teenage race marshal and was struck on the head by a fire extinguisher.

Both men died upon impact.

Mr Pryce attended Ysgol Frongoch in Denbigh and spent much of his childhood in the town.

Gwyneth Kensler, chairman of Denbigh Museum who has organised the exhibition, said: “In 2014, a Denbigh resident called Ronwy Rogers asked if Denbigh Museum would commemorate Tom Pryce and his achievement.

“Mr Rogers had followed Tom’s career and was friendly with his parents.

“He put me in touch with Tom’s widow, Nella, who now lives in the south of France.

“She kindly loaned the museum all of Tom’s trophies in her possession for one year.

“We then started to carefully plan the exhibition and make contact with former friends, including Tom’s best man at his wedding.”

Despite Mr Pryce being from Ruthin, Ms Kensler pointed out his links to the Denbigh area: “When asked about Mr Pryce being Ruthin-born, Ms Kensler said: “Most people respond ‘But he’s a Ruthin man’. This is natural and Ruthin have commemorated him with a mural, however Tom also attended Ysgol Frongoch which is now our museum and spent much of his childhood in Denbigh and Nantglyn.

Ms Kensler added: “People have been incredibly kind with their contributions and anecdotes and we hope to have Tom’s blue MG on show at the launch.

“We hope to Skype with Nella in France who is unable to make this event.

“Cardiff University Racing Club have also been in contact and have offered us the loan of their racing car named Gwyneth, after Tom’s mother, and plan on making a group visit.

“I would like to thank the museum teams and everyone who has contributed to making this special exhibition.”

The exhibition will be open to the public from 2pm to 4pm each Monday to Thursday from next week until October 1.

Monday, July 16 every Monday and Thursday between 2-4pm, until October 1.

Visits outside these times can be requested by phoning 077923 15723 or emailing gwyneth.kensler@denbighshire.gov.uk