Samuel Ortiz, a race car driver, has died instantly in a car crash that left his brother Jordi in intensive care. The accident took place this past Friday, with outlets reporting that Jordi remains in a delicate condition.
The accident was reported by SUR in English, revealing that the brothers were in a race in the Rallye de La Ceramica. The two were on a road between two towns in the East of Spain. The car went off the road and hit a crash barrier.
The news was shared by the official Facebook page of the race’s organizing committee. “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,” reads the post. It confirmed that Samuel died on the scene while Jordi was taken to the hospital.
The death has rattled the racing community. “After being made aware of the situation, the Organizing Committee of the Ceramic Rally 2026 has decided to suspend the race as a sign of grief and respect,” continued the statement. “We want to convey our deepest sympathy to all the family and friends of Samuel and the prompt recovery of Jordi.”
Juanfran Pérez Llorca, the president of Spain’s Valencian Community, shared his reaction on X. “My condolences to his family and to all those who loved him,” he wrote, translated from Spanish. “Much strength to his brother Jordi… A very big hug to the entire family.”
© Sean GardnerMore details about rally racing
Rally racing is different than circuit racing, which takes place in a closed asphalt track. Rally racing has more variety and thus risk, being conducted on public roads. The races explore different terrains and can last for numerous days.
These events are broken down into various stages, with drivers racing through these races as fast as possible. Ultimately, the winner is determined by the driver who covers the different stages in the least amount of total time.
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