A 30-year-old rally driver has died and his brother is fighting for life after a horrific crash during the Rallye de La Ceramica in Spain's Castellon province on Friday.
Samuel Ortiz was killed instantly when the Honda Civic he was co-driving, driven by his brother Jordi, 33, left the track and hit a crash barrier on the CV-189 between L'Alcora and Onda. Firefighters had to cut both men from the wreckage.
Organisers suspended the event immediately. The Rallye Club Costa Azahar said in a statement: 'During the second leg... car number 32, crewed by brothers Jordi and Samuel Ortiz, was involved in a serious accident. Co-driver Samuel died at the scene, while the driver was evacuated to Castellon General University Hospital in a very critical condition.'
Tributes have poured in from across motorsport. JuanFran Perez Llorca, President of the Valencian government, said he was 'devastated' and offered strength to Jordi. Fellow enthusiast Jose Ramon Planelles Sanchez wrote: 'Much sadness in our rally world. A great person leaves us, always smiling.'
Villaviciosa Motorsport called the decision to suspend the competition 'wise', adding: 'When a tragedy like this happens nothing else makes sense.'
