THE DEATH of a rally driver in a freak accident while racing has left his team “in mourning.”
On Saturday, David López Tomico was killed in a fatal crash during the Rallysprint San Bartolomé de Pinares in Vila, Spain.
He was negotiating the first downhill section of the course when his Fiat Abarth Grande Punto went off the path and rolled down a steep ravine.
Firefighters were unable to save him, and he died as a result of his injuries.
Natalia Rios Diaz, his co-driver, was trapped inside the car but was successfully recovered from the wreckage and rushed to the hospital.
The rest of the day’s activities were cancelled by race officials.
Tomico’s team, Vallejo Racing, paid tribute to him in a touching statement.
They wrote: “Again, this sport hits us where it hurts the most.
“Vallejo Racing is in mourning because we lose one of our own: David López Tomico, a passionate lover of motorsport, a leader in his work and an example of perseverance and love for his own.
“He joined the team in 2022 and his spirit and strength were fundamental for the Dakar 2023 project to bear fruit.
“Today, we not only lose a mechanic or a team member, but we also lose a real friend.” David, we will always have your strength.”
It comes after four-time British motorcycle champion Keith Farmer died at the age of 35 after being forced to retire due to an injury.
After hearing about Farmer’s struggles with his exit from the sport and the breakdown of his relationship, an inquest into his death returned a suicide verdict.
