GT Sport is saddened by the loss of Carlos Gracia, the former president of the Royal Spanish Motor Racing Federation (RFEdA), who passed away last weekend at the age of 84, after fighting with illness.
Carlos Gracia was instrumental, in his native region of Aragón, in the creation of the Baja Montesblancos (later Baja Aragón), which became Europe’s top off-road competition, and in the launch of the Motorland Aragón circuit.
He was elected President of the RFEdA for the first time in 1984 and re-elected six times before stepping down in 2016. During his 32-year tenure, he oversaw the blossoming of Spanish motorsports, thanks to the opening of new tracks, the launch of new series and programmes such as ‘Racing for Spain’ aimed at fostering new talents, and witnessed the success of new generations of Spanish drivers, with Carlos Sainz Sr and Fernando Alonso reaching World Champion status, and of Spanish promoters, such as RPM and GT Sport, beyond the national borders.
Gracia also played a key role internationally and was one of the FIA vice presidents from 2000 to 2017.
Jesús Pareja, CEO of GT Sport, commented: “We are immensely saddened by the loss of Carlos Gracia, who has played a pivotal role in bringing Spanish motor racing where it is today and will be remembered for long. He was a leading and charismatic figure, but most of all, he was a very good friend, who always supported GT Sport’s endeavours, at home first and internationally later. We stand by to his wife Paloma, his sons and daughters, and all his loved ones in this moment of grief.”