The WRC community was saddened to learn of the passing of Juan Suberville, President of the Guanajuato Rally México organising committee and an instrumental figure in taking the FIA World Rally Championship to México.
Suberville worked alongside his brother Patrick to bring the WRC to México, specifically the Guanajuato region. From starting Rally México in the 1990s, Juan was the driving force for the event to reach WRC Calendar status in 2004. Since then, it has since run on 17 occasions under his guidance. He passed away on Sunday (15 October) of natural causes, aged 75.
Gilles Spitalier and Patrick Suberville, fellow directors of Rally México led the tributes to their colleague and friend: “It is sad news for the Rally México team and all the automobile family. Juan has always been a motor for the WRC project and a good friend to all of us. He will be missed in the future stories of rallying in our country”
Governor of Guanajuato, Diego Sinhue Rodríguez, took to social media to mourn the loss of Suberville. He wrote on X, the platform formally known as Twitter: “I deeply regret the departure of a great friend from Guanajuato, Juan Suberville Tron, president and founder of Rally México. I am sending a big hug to family, friends and the @RallyMexico community. Rest in peace.”
Jona Siebel, WRC Promoter Manager Director expressed his condolences at learning of the loss. “Juan was a visionary who changed the idea of a modern WRC event, and will leave a lasting legacy within the sport.
“To bring the WRC to a country where rallying barely existed, and create an event that set a new standard from the outset is a remarkable feat.”
