RE: Q&A: Stephane Ratel, 2010 FIA GT1 Boss

[elster]

jains15 said:

PH Article said:

What was Bernie Ecclestone like to work with?
Bernie Ecclestone is a very inspirational figure for any business person working in motorsport. I worked with him for three years when we developed the FIA GT Championship and I think he is a brilliant personality for this business.

And the award for "Most diplomatic interview answer" goes to....

I think that is the answer is from a man who wants to step into Bernies shoes on death.

[rubystone]

He is an engima, Ratel. He seems to have the support of key figures in the FIA, He makes some unsuual decisions though and I'd argue has been riding off the back of the success he had with Peter and Barth in the heydays of BPR. A golden era indeed and for me, one of the best eras of GT racing I have ever had the privilege to be involved in.

Out of interest, we very nearly bought a Ginetta G50 with an eye to running in GT4 in 2008 - it was obvious that the rules would allow this car to dominate and it was cheap racing which offered a csot-effective step up for the guys we'd run in the Caterham Eurocup...but we knew equally that he'd close that loophole and we'd end up with a car that might be a white elephant...


....he now appears to have allowed the Mosler to compete in British GTs - as I said, some odd decisions.....

[Ahonen]

rubystone said:

....he now appears to have allowed the Mosler to compete in British GTs - as I said, some odd decisions.....

Pretty logical decision, really. It's allowed in GT Open, Belcar and Spanish. Possibly ADAC this year also.

[keith2.2]

Europa1 said:

The one criticism I had of last year's event was the lack of bog screens made it hard to follow the action, particularly changes in teh positions of the cars.

Should have drank less coke...fewer trips mean you wouldn't miss the action!

[chevronb37]

rubystone said:

He is an engima, Ratel. He seems to have the support of key figures in the FIA, He makes some unsuual decisions though and I'd argue has been riding off the back of the success he had with Peter and Barth in the heydays of BPR. A golden era indeed and for me, one of the best eras of GT racing I have ever had the privilege to be involved in.

Great days indeed. Although, I understand there was some very funny politicking going on there Terry Lovell's book Bernie's Game is my source, although it's probably 5 years since I read it). Mosley and Ecclestone founded the FIA GT Championship, and poached Ratel and Barth to help; leaving Patrick Peter to run his own series in 1997. As I recall he ran a round at Brands Hatch that year, the only headline car was the Bscher langheck McLaren. So anyway, Peter sued Ecclestone and they settled out of court for £4million IIRC. He now runs LMS, Classic Le Mans and Pau Historic so not done badly out of it. I think the decision to allow the works teams and the long-tailed specials in was a mistake, although that 1997 season was brilliant fun - Silverstone in the rain with Lehto dancing the GTR through Becketts. Magic. 1996 in the BPR with the Esprits, F1 GTRs, 911 GT2 Evos and the mega (but unreliable) F40 LMs and GTEs was the zenith of GT racing in my eyes.

[Merp]

Is there a Hi-Res copy of that top pic anywhere?

Edited by Merp on Thursday 25th February 15:57

[vetteheadracer]

Pictures are here:

http://www.fiagt.com/gallery.php?event=53&seas...

P.S. For all those coach potatoes wanting to know about the TV coverage, howabout getting yourselves along to Silverstone the Mayday Bank Holiday weekend and witnessing the racing for real in the flesh!

There will also be Free Supercar Infield Parking......no a 1.2 Nova is not a Supercar no matter how big the exhaust.......just before you ask

[humpy]

Here is some video I shot after sneaking into the pits last year at Silverstone.

Good 2010 spec GT-R and GT40 clips as they were testing under race conditions.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p713fnWDVK4

[nav p]

i want his job..