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.”