A tragic incident occurred during the Rallye de La Ceramica 2026 in Spain’s Castellon province, resulting in the death of a young rally driver and leaving his brother, who was driving the vehicle, in critical condition. The unfortunate crash took place when the two rally driver siblings were on the CV-189 between L’Alcora and Onda as part of the race track. They were in a Honda Civic that veered off the track and collided with a crash barrier.
Samuel Ortiz, aged 30, lost his life in the crash, while his older brother, Jordi, aged 33, was rushed to the hospital in a very serious state. Following the tragedy, the event organizers decided to immediately suspend the rest of the rally as a mark of respect. The Rallye Club Costa Azahar released a statement expressing condolences and announcing the suspension of the event.
Rescue teams had to extract both men from the wreckage, with one of them tragically succumbing to the injuries on the spot. Tributes poured in from the motorsport community after the devastating incident. Messages of condolences and wishes for a speedy recovery were shared for the family and friends of Samuel Ortiz and prayers for Jordi’s quick healing.
Various organizations, including Villaviciosa Motorsport and Rallye Festival Hoznayo, extended their sympathies and support to the affected families and emphasized the importance of suspending the competition in light of such a tragic event. The rallying community mourns the loss of Samuel Ortiz and stands united in support during this challenging time.