A 30-year-old co-driver was killed and his older brother left clinging to life after their Honda Civic veered off a winding road in eastern Spain and slammed into a crash barrier during the Rallye de La Cerámica 2026 on the night of Friday, May 29, 2026.
Samuel Ortiz died at the scene of the wreck on the CV-189 between L’Alcora and Onda in Castellón province. His brother Jordi Ortiz, 33, who was behind the wheel of car number 32, was pulled from the mangled vehicle and rushed to Castellón General University Hospital in critical condition. He remained in intensive care as of Sunday, May 31.
The siblings were competing together — Jordi driving, Samuel calling pace notes from the passenger seat — when the car left the road during the second leg of the rally and struck the barrier. Firefighters with the Castellón Province Fire Department arrived to find both men trapped inside the wreckage.
A Race Cut Short by Tragedy
The Rallye Club Costa Azahar, which organizes the annual event, suspended the competition within hours of the crash and issued a statement confirming the death of the younger Ortiz brother.
“During the second leg of the Rallye de la Cerámica, held on Friday afternoon/evening, car number 32 crewed by brothers Jordi and Samuel Ortiz was involved in a serious accident,” the club said in a statement released on Saturday, May 30. “As a result, co-driver Samuel died at the scene, while the driver was evacuated to Castellón General University Hospital in a very critical condition.”
The committee said it canceled the remainder of the rally “as a sign of mourning and respect,” extending condolences to the Ortiz family and wishing Jordi a swift recovery.
Firefighters Describe the Extrication
Emergency crews reached the crash site within minutes, but the damage to the Honda Civic was severe enough to require hydraulic cutting tools to free both occupants. Jordi was the first to be treated, attended by the rally’s medical team and roadside paramedics before being airlifted to the hospital in Castellón.
The Castellón Province Fire Department later explained the sequence on social media: “Firefighters have freed the two occupants of the vehicle. The first was treated by the event’s medical team and emergency responders. The death of the second occupant was confirmed at the scene and, following authorisation from the Civil Guard, firefighters proceeded with the extrication.”
The Guardia Civil, which oversees rural road incidents in Spain, authorized the removal of Samuel’s body after confirming the death at the scene.
Condolences Pour In From Motorsport World
News of Samuel’s death rippled quickly across Spain’s tight-knit rally community. Juanfran Pérez Llorca, the president of the Valencian Community, posted a message on X expressing his grief.
“Devastated by the death of Samuel Ortiz at the Rallye de la Cerámica being held in L’Alcora,” he wrote on May 30. “My condolences to his family and to all those who loved him. Much strength to his brother Jordi, who remains hospitalized at the Hospital de Castellón. A very big hug to the entire family.”
José Ramón Planelles Sánchez, a photographer and well-known figure in Spanish rallying, posted a tribute on Facebook calling Samuel “a great person” who was “always smiling.” Planelles vowed to “keep taking photos of you wherever you are.”
Villaviciosa Motorsport echoed the sentiment, writing that the team mourned the passing of the co-driver and supported the organizers’ decision to halt the race. “When a tragedy like this happens nothing else makes sense,” the team said.
Rallye Festival Hoznayo, billed as one of Europe’s largest exhibition events for classic and historic rally cars, also issued a public statement. “We would like to express our deepest condolences on the passing of Samuel Ortiz,” the organization said. “In these very difficult times, we send all our strength and best wishes for a swift and full recovery to his brother Jordi. A big hug to all his family, friends and loved ones. We share your grief. Rest in peace, Samuel.”
A Brother Still Fighting
As of Tuesday, June 2, Jordi remained in intensive care at the hospital in Castellón. Doctors have not released a detailed prognosis, and the family has asked for privacy as they grieve one son while waiting on news of another.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation. Authorities have not said whether mechanical failure, road conditions or driver error contributed to the Honda Civic leaving the CV-189. Rally officials are expected to cooperate fully with the Guardia Civil’s review.
The Rallye de La Cerámica, named for the ceramics industry that defines the Castellón region, draws amateur and semi-professional crews from across Spain each spring. For the Ortiz brothers, racing together had been a shared passion. On Friday night, that passion turned to grief in the span of seconds.