Rally champion, 21, killed in horror crash as tributes paid to tragic star
A rallying prodigy has been killed in a fatal crash, it has been confirmed. The FIA European Rally Championship (ERC) confirmed that Matteo Doretto had lost his life in an accident while testing, aged just 21.
The Italian driver was killed during a test in Poland when he lost control of his car and hit a tree at the side of the road. Reports described the impact as "very violent" and images of the destroyed car show extensive damage to the driver's side, where Doretto would have been sat.
The Italian racer was pronounced dead by a doctor at the scene of the crash, after firefighters had extracted his body from the wreckage. Co-driver Samuele Pellegrino suffered no major injuries but was taken to hospital as a precaution.
Doretto was taking part in the test to prepare for the Rally of Poland, which is scheduled to take place this weekend. It forms part of the European Rally Championship in which former Formula 1 racer Jos Verstappen, father of four-time F1 champion Max Verstappen, competes.
The 21-year-old was in the midst of his first ERC season, having landed a seat by winning the Italian junior title last year. "With potential in abundance, Matteo was polite, engaging but, above all, modest," the ERC said in a tribute statement.
"To all of Matteo's family and friends, his co-drivers Andrea Budoia and Samuele Pellegrino, the MS Munaretto team and all who had got to know Matteo during his all-too-short time in the ERC, the FIA European Rally Championship family extends its deepest sympathies."
Terenzio Testoni, a manager for tyre supplier Pirelli, said: "His loss is a tragedy that deeply saddens us. On behalf of Pirelli, I would like to extend our most heartfelt and sincere condolences to his family and friends.
Just three weeks before his death on Wednesday, Doretto had finished third in the junior category at Rally Hungary. He was a member of the ACI Team Italia driver development programme and seemed to have a big future ahead of him in the motorsport world.
The ERC said: "Despite the enormity of his achievement in Hungary, when he finished in third position in the young driver category, Matteo used his post-rally summing up to outline his desire to become even more competitive on gravel, while also looking ahead to his home event, next month's Rally di Roma Capitale."
Doretto was born and raised near Venice in north-east Italy, to parents Michele and Barbara who were also rally drivers. He is survived by his mother, father and girlfriend, Melissa.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Reuters
18 minutes ago
- Reuters
STMicro to buy part of NXP Semiconductors' sensor business for up to $950 million
July 24 (Reuters) - French-Italian chipmaker STMicroelectronics ( opens new tab said on Thursday it would acquire part of NXP Semiconductors' (NXPI.O), opens new tab sensor unit for up to $950 million in cash. The deal would expand STMicro's portfolio of MEMS-based electromechanical sensors, which include safety and monitoring sensors for vehicles as well as pressure sensors for industrial applications. The unit generated revenue of about $300 million last year, STMicro said in a statement. As part of the agreement, STMicro would make an upfront payment of $900 million and $50 million on achieving certain technical milestones. The deal is expected to close in the first half of 2026. Chipmakers exposed to the struggling automotive, industrial, and consumer chip markets have faced a sales slump as they grapple with low demand and high inventories. Earlier in the day, STMicro, one of Europe's largest chipmakers, reported its first quarterly loss in over a decade as it took a $190 million hit from restructuring and impairment costs.
BBC News
2 hours ago
- BBC News
Liverpool plan record Isak deal - Friday's gossip
Liverpool are ready to break the British transfer record again for Alexander Isak, but Al-Hilal are also preparing a huge bid for the Sweden striker, while Newcastle are lining up Benjamin Sesko as a potential replacement, plus are poised to make a British record bid for Newcastle and Sweden striker Alexander Isak, 25. (Mail+ - subscription required), externalBut Saudi side Al-Hilal are also currently preparing a bid, understood to be more than £130m, for Isak after he was omitted from Newcastle's squad for their pre-season tour of Singapore. (Talksport), externalChelsea and Manchester United have ruled out a move for Isak, with the latter having already spent big on Brazil forward Matheus Cunha, 26, and Cameroon international Bryan Mbeumo, 25. (Mail), externalNewcastle have turned their attention to Slovenian international Benjamin Sesko with the 22-year-old RB Leipzig striker the main target should Isak leave. (ipaper), externalAston Villa have told Manchester United striker Ollie Watkins is not for sale, despite interest in the 29-year-old Englishman from the Old Trafford club. (Telegraph - subscription required), externalNewly promoted Leeds United have agreed a deal with Lyon for goalkeeper Lucas Perri worth £15.6m, with the 27-year-old Brazilian expected to undergo a medical at the Whites' pre-season training camp in Germany. (Mail), externalBayern Munich are set to bid again for Liverpool and Colombia winger Luis Diaz. The Merseyside club are aware of the 28-year-old's desire to leave and talks will continue. (Fabrizio Romano), externalLiverpool have offered French defender Ibrahima Konate, 26, a new contract to fend off interest from Real Madrid, who are keen to sign him this summer or next. (Footmercato - in French), externalBrazil international Douglas Luiz, 27, failed to report for the first day of pre-season training at Juventus on Thursday as West Ham, Everton and Liverpool all have interest in the midfielder. (Gazetta dello Sport - in Italian), externalChelsea's English winger Raheem Sterling, 30, has emerged as one of a number of forward targets for Italian champions Napoli. (Calciomercarto - in Italian), externalLiverpool attacker Harvey Elliott is open to leaving the Anfield club, with interest in the 22-year-old England youth international from West Ham. (Metro), externalSpurs are considering a £15m offer from LAFC for captain Son Heung-min as the 33-year-old South Korean mulls over his future. (Sun), externalReal Madrid are open to loaning 19-year-old forward Endrick to another team to avoid hindering his progress, but the Brazilian would prefer to fight for his place at the Bernabeu. (ESPN), external
Scottish Sun
2 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Napoli ready to hand Raheem Sterling transfer lifeline with Chelsea locked in talks over two MORE arrivals
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) RAHEEM Sterling could be offered a Chelsea escape route by Napoli. But the Italian champions, who already have former Premier League stars Scott McTominay and Billy Gilmour on their books, want a loan deal for Sterling on similar terms to Arsenal last season. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 Chelsea are desperate to find a permanent home for the ex-England man Credit: Getty And Chelsea have made it clear that they want to find a permanent move for the former England international. Juventus and Bayer Leverkusen are also interested in Sterling, 30, who has two years left on his £325,000-per-week contract with the Blues. Chelsea paid a significant proportion of the ex Manchester City winger's wages after he joined Arsenal in a last-minute deal last summer. There may have to be compromise on all sides if Sterling is to relaunch his career away from Stamford Bridge again this year.. Napoli have turned their attention to Sterling after being frustrated in their efforts to sign winger Dan Ndoye from Bologna. Ndoye is also a target for Nottingham Forest and Napoli are losing patience with their Serie A rivals. Napoli offer Sterling a great example of how a new start abroad can work for Premier League stars. Former Manchester United midfielder McTominay in particular has reinvented himself as a hero in Naples after playing a key role in last season's success. BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK Meanwhile, in another frantic summer of coming and goings at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea are locked in talks with Ajax over teenage defender Jorrel Hato. The Blues are thought to have indicated they are prepared to pay around £35m for Hato, 19. Man Utd hunting Jackson as Chelsea's demands revealed | Transfers Exposed But Ajax say they want £50m, and former player Danny Blind, who is in his second stint on the club's supervisory board, has a history of playing hardball. Back in 2022, Blind negotiated a deal with Manchester United for Ajax defender Lisandro Martinez which saw United pay an initial fee of £48.3m, rising to £56.7m. Chelsea are said to be moving closer to a deal for RB Leipzig playmaker Xavi Simons. The Blues are yet to make a formal bid and Leipzig are said to be sticking to their £60m valuation of the Dutch international. But there is increasing confidence at Chelsea that a compromise will be reached and Simons will be added to the club's formidable array of attacking talent.
