Belgium racing circuit head honcho ‘killed’

Article posted by Coliseum, August 17^th, 2021

Image: Spa Francorchamps

Spa Francorchamps circuit management – motor racing circuit located in Belgium – have confirmed the death of Nathalie Maillet, their popular head honcho with reports suggesting that a domestic incident involving her husband has resulted in her death together with that of a close friend, and of her husband, ex Fun Cup organizer Franz Dubois, at their home in Luxembourg.

The ‘Daily Sports Car’ stated that Maillet’s body was found by the local police in her Luxembourg home, alongside the bodies of her husband and another woman, all three showing gunshot wounds.

According to a statement issued by Luxembourg’s public prosecutor, Maillet’s husband is believed to have shot and killed both women before committing suicide.

The ‘Daily Sports Car’ quoted Melchior Wathelet, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Circuit de Spa Francorchamps, as stating, “My thoughts are with Nathalie’s family, her parents, her loved ones, and her teams. I know how much this news will upset our teams and I would like to offer my sincere condolences to the entire Circuit team on behalf of the entire Board. Today, we are losing a highly respected lady, a true leader who will be greatly missed. Nathalie had become the face of the Circuit, she embodied the passion for racing that we all share.”

The 70,000-capacity Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps is a motor-racing circuit located in Stavelot, Belgium. It is the current venue of the Formula One Belgian Grand Prix, hosting its first Grand Prix in 1925, and has held a Grand Prix every year since 1985.

After involvement as a competitor in Fun Cup (one-make racing series) and later as the co-organizer of the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series (official NASCAR stock-car racing series based in Europe), American Festival NASCAR Finals and the NASCAR WES International Circuit Competition Team, Nathalie had been CEO of the Spa Francorchamps circuit for five years, guiding the world-famous venue through a period of huge challenge and change.

She did so as a very visible presence in the paddock of all major race meetings and the news of her death has been received with real sorrow at Le Mans (France) as it surely will too amongst the SRO family for whom the Spa 24 Hours (endurance racing event for cars at Spa Francorchamps) is the keystone annual event.

Lamented Pierre Fillon, President, Automobile Club de l’Ouest, “We are particularly shocked and upset by this news. We were in regular contact in the past few years, in particular in relation to the FIA World Endurance Championship. Nathalie was passionate about motorsport and spared no effort in defending our causes. On behalf of the ACO, I extend our heartfelt condolences to her friends and family and to the staff of Spa-Francorchamps. They can count on our support in this difficult time.”

Stated Frédéric Lequien, CEO, Le Mans Endurance Management, “We are deeply saddened to hear about the passing of Nathalie Maillet. Nathalie always gave the FIA WEC and European Le Mans Series the warmest of welcomes. She was a woman full of energy, ideas and was a great pleasure to work with. On behalf of LMEM, I would like to offer our sincerest condolences to her family and friends, and of course to the entire team at Spa-Francorchamps.”

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