The New Year’s weekend started with tragic news for the motoring community. Two-time champion of the CART series, winner of the Indy 500 and sports director of the BAR and McLaren teams in Formula 1, Gil de Ferran suffered a heart attack right on the racing circuit. He was only 56 years old.
According to the Associated Press, the Brazilian suffered a heart attack while behind the wheel while competing with his son at The Concours Club circuit in Opa-locka, Florida. He could not be revived. We do not yet have more information about the circumstances of the death of the native of Paris.
Gil de Ferran has a successful racing career behind him. He was successful mainly on the American continent. However, he entered big motorsport in Europe, where he also achieved his first major success. With the team of three-time Formula 1 champion Jackie Stewart, he became the British Formula 3 champion in 1992. Already the year before, he finished third overall as a rookie, beaten only by Rubens Barrichello and David Coulthard.
He tried his luck in Formula 3000 in 1993 and 1994, first placing fourth and then third overall. He was also noticed by Formula 1 teams when he was given the opportunity to test with Williams and Arrows. However, his European career ended here, and he subsequently went to America, where he experienced his greatest successes.
In 1995, he debuted in the CART series. In 2000, he moved to the powerful Penske team, with whom he enjoyed the title of champion in his first season with this stable, to successfully defend the overall championship in 2001. One of the last major successes came in 2003 when he dominated the legendary Indianapolis 500.
After the end of his active racing career, he started his managerial career. Between 2005 and 2007, he worked as the sports director of the BAR team and later Honda. He also held the same position at McLaren from 2018 to 2021. He also has one interesting historical record, when in 2000 he maintained an average speed of 388.5 kilometers per hour during qualifying at the California Speedway circuit, which is still a valid record for closed circuits.
The entire motoring community gradually reacted to the death of its prominent member. “All of us at McLaren Racing are shocked and deeply saddened to lose a beloved member of our McLaren family. Our deepest condolences to the family, friends and loved ones of Gil de Ferran. Gil was an important and integral part of our team. He was a huge force on and off the track and had a great influence on everyone who raced and worked with him. We will all miss him.” wrote the McLaren team, for which de Ferran still worked as a consultant.
“I am very shocked and deeply saddened by the news of the loss of Gil de Ferran. He was an incredible person and a true champion. We will all miss him dearly. Our thoughts are with his family at this very sad time.” she stated through the mouth of her president Stefan Domenicali Formula 1.
2023-12-31 17:15:01
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