Who was Klaus Rader, the founder of L'Osteria who died in the Mallorca rally
The German businessman, 63 years old, had recently settled in Alaró. The co-pilot Christina Ettel suffered serious spinal injuries
PalmaKlaus Rader, a 63-year-old German entrepreneur and founder of the international restaurant chain L'Osteria, died on Friday in an accident during the Rally 550 Challenge Mallorca, when the Porsche he was traveling in fell down a ravine on the Ma-10 road, near Mortitx, between Pollença and Lluc, as confirmed by several German media outlets. His co-driver, Christina Ettel, a 39-year-old professional driver, suffered serious spinal injuries.
Rader founded L'Osteria in 1999 in Nuremberg with his partner Friedemann Findeis. The business, which started as an Italian restaurant, expanded internationally to reach nearly 200 establishments in nine countries.
His relationship with Mallorca also had a personal side. He had recently settled on an estate in Alaró and in 2025 he opened the first restaurant of the chain on the island, at the Mallorca Fashion Outlet shopping center, in Marratxí.
Beyond business, Rader accumulated more than two decades of experience in the world of motorsports, especially in endurance competitions with GT vehicles. He had participated in races such as the 24 Hours of Nürburgring, where in 2022 he achieved third place in the SP9 Pro-Am category.
Who is Christina Ettel
Christina Ettel, of Austrian origin and residing in Austria, is a pilot with experience in international competitions. In 2024, she won the ADAC Opel Electric Rally Cup together with Luca Pröglhöf. She was also part of the Opel Junior Team and competed in the Junior European Rally Championship.
Ettel was traveling with Rader in the vehicle performing reconnaissance tasks on the route, with number 000, outside of the official competition. The accident occurred for reasons that are still being investigated. After the incident, the organization definitively suspended the remaining stages and declared the event finished.