Fifth round of the 2022 Ecuadorian National Rally Championship, Rally El Oro, was stopped following the fatal accident which took the life of the young rally driver Martín Vintimilla.
It happened on Friday, 07 October 2022, in Azuay province of Ecuador. Martín Vintimilla, 20, was at the wheel of the black and white Hyundai i10 #565 co-driven by José Altamirano - or, according to different sources, Pedro Aguilar. On the sixth special stage of the rally, Malvas - Ayapamba, Vintimilla lost control of his car which went off the road and fell into a ravine. As the result of the accident, Vintimilla was killed instantly and Altamirano was injured and taken to hospital. The duo was in 23rd place overall, third in their class at the moment of the crash.
The rally was stopped after the accident and Alfonso Quirola - Leonardo Rojas were declared winners.
Martín Vintimilla was making his second start in rally. He made his debut in racing at age of five, participating in kart races in Ecuador and neighbouring countries. He won the international championship in Colombia at the age of 8. He also participated in motorcycle and mountain bike races. Vintimillia was going to participate in the Vuelta à la República, the most prestigious Ecuadorian rally, with his father Juan Diego Vintimilla preparing his car for the competition.
R.I.P
