Rally Co-Driver Soraya Barreiro Rodríguez, 20, Dies After Car Leaves Road During Spanish Race

A promising young rally co-driver has died after the car driven by her boyfriend left the road and caught fire during a major motorsport event in northern Spain.

Soraya Barreiro Rodríguez, 20, was competing alongside 26-year-old German Romano in the 49th Villa de Llanes Rally in Asturias when the accident occurred on Saturday.

Romano reportedly tried to save Soraya following the crash. He survived but suffered burns and was taken to Arriondas Regional Hospital. His current condition has not been publicly confirmed.

The tragedy occurred during only Soraya’s second official competition.

Car Left the Road During Second Day of Rally

The accident happened shortly before 2 p.m. on the second day of the three-day event.

Soraya and Romano were travelling in a BMW 325i along the LLN-7 road during the rally stage between Llanes and Mere when their vehicle left the roadway and caught fire.

The regional emergency coordination centre received an alert at 1:53 p.m.

According to officials, the caller reported that the rally car had gone off the road and was burning. One occupant was outside the vehicle while the other remained inside.

Firefighters and other emergency personnel were immediately dispatched to the scene.

At 2:09 p.m., the medical team assigned to the sporting event confirmed that the person who had remained in the vehicle had died.

Romano was transported to Arriondas Regional Hospital for treatment.

Firefighters extinguished the blaze, declaring it out at 2:36 p.m., before Soraya’s body was recovered from the vehicle.

Organisers Immediately Suspend the Rally

Following confirmation of Soraya’s death, organisers made the decision to cancel all remaining timed stages of the Villa de Llanes Rally.

The competition had begun Friday and had originally been scheduled to continue through Sunday.

Organisers said the cancellation was made out of respect for Soraya, her family and everyone affected by the tragedy, stressing that continuing the sporting competition was no longer important in the circumstances.

They also extended their condolences and support to her relatives, friends and the wider motorsport community.

Soraya Was Competing in Only Her Second Official Event

Soraya was a local woman who was still at the beginning of her competitive motorsport career.

The Villa de Llanes Rally was reportedly only her second official competition, making her death particularly shocking for those within the local racing community.

Local reports identified Romano not only as her driver but also as her boyfriend.

While Romano escaped the vehicle, he sustained burns in the accident. Reports said he attempted to save Soraya, although further details about those efforts and the extent of his injuries were not immediately available.

Llanes Mayor Pays Tribute

Llanes Mayor Enrique Riestra expressed his sorrow following the accident and offered condolences on behalf of the municipality.

He described Soraya’s death as a devastating loss and sent support to her family, friends and everyone who knew her.

Riestra also offered support to Romano as he recovered from the accident, as well as to the drivers, co-drivers, teams, organisers, volunteers and fans connected to the rally.

For Llanes, he said, the event represents far more than simply a sporting competition, leaving the entire community deeply affected by what happened.

“Rest in peace, Soraya,” the mayor concluded.

Race Has Previously Been Struck by Tragedy

Saturday’s accident also revived painful memories surrounding the same rally.

Five years earlier, driver Jaime Gil and co-driver Diego Calvo were killed while competing in the Villa de Llanes Rally.

Now another fatal accident has brought the event to an abrupt halt.

Soraya entered the weekend as a 20-year-old co-driver at the beginning of her racing journey. By Saturday afternoon, the remaining competition had been abandoned and Llanes was mourning a young competitor whose motorsport career had barely begun.