+10 Gil de Ferran (56): Goodbye to a true gentleman
Gil de Ferran (56): Goodbye to a true gentleman
Gil de Ferran (56): Goodbye to a true gentleman
Gil de Ferran (56): Goodbye to a true gentleman
Gil de Ferran (56): Goodbye to a true gentleman
Gil de Ferran (56): Goodbye to a true gentleman
Gil de Ferran (56): Goodbye to a true gentleman
Gil de Ferran (56): Goodbye to a true gentleman
Gil de Ferran (56): Goodbye to a true gentleman
Gil de Ferran (56): Goodbye to a true gentleman
Gil de Ferran (56): Goodbye to a true gentleman
Gil de Ferran (56): Goodbye to a true gentleman
Gil de Ferran (56): Goodbye to a true gentleman
Gil de Ferran passed away unexpectedly on Friday, December 29th. The former CART champion and Indy 500 winner was just 56. He became unwell during an event he had entered with his son Luke at The Concours Club circuit near Miami, Florida.
According to the AP, Gil de Ferran pulled over, saying he felt unwell. Tony Kanaan told the AP de Ferran subsequently suffered a heart attack and could not be revived. The Brazilian champion was 56.
Early steps
Paris-born Gil de Ferran made his way through the ranks, starting out in karting in Brazil. In 1987, he became Brazilian champion in Formula Ford. In 1988, rather penniless, he decided to chase the dream like many of his countrymen had before him, by moving to the UK. De Ferran finished third in Formula Ford in the UK in 1989.
For 1990, he signed with Paul Stewart Racing (PSR) for a double campaign in the European and the British Formula Opel/Vauxhall Lotus single-seaters. Even though Gil de Ferran beat his teammate David Coulthard, he missed out on championship titles. But, as he said to Simon Taylor in a Motor Sport interview, “for the first time, I was not a paying driver anymore.”
British F3 champion
De Ferran moved to British Formula 3 – the most prestigious championship – and won three races in his first season with Edenbridge. Prior to the 1992 season, de Ferran moved back to PSR. With the Mugen-Honda-powered Reynard 923, de Ferran dominated the series. He easily took the 1992 title, with seven wins. De Ferran finished on the podium in all but two races that season, the path towards F1 seemed an obvious one at that point.
Graduating to F3000, again with PSR, de Ferran started with a win in only his second race – from pole position – and podium places later on in the season. In 1994, he would win the prestigious Pau Grand Prix, but missed out on the F3000 title. Meanwhile, the road to F1 became a rocky path. After a promising test with Williams, another outing with Footwork (ex-Arrows) presented itself. It came to nought. His speed was never questioned, but perhaps de Ferran lacked the killer instinct outside of the cockpit to make it into F1.
To America
Just after a big crash in F3000 at Monza, de Ferran received a telephone call. From Jim Hall, asking if he could replace Teo Fabi in a test in his new Indycar. A still-shaken de Ferran broke the track record in his first outing in a high-power, turbocharged Indy Car. For 1996, he was confirmed as Jim Hall’s driver for the CART championship. De Ferran thanked him with provisional pole in the first race in Miami. A win in the last race of the season – at Laguna Seca – handed him the Rookie of the Year title.
Fastest lap… ever
In 1997, de Ferran famously led on a damp Portland track, only to be beaten on the line by a late charging Mark Blundell on slicks. The difference was just 0.027 seconds. For 2000, de Ferran became part of the famous Penske squad, with Reynard chassis, Honda engine and Firestone tyres. Gil de Ferran took his first CART championship in the final race at Fontana. His fastest lap in qualifying – 241.26 mph (386.01 kph) – is a closed circuit speed record that still stands. In 2001, Gil de Ferran became a back to back CART champion.
Indy win
In 2003, he finally clinched a win in the Indy 500, even though he had to come back from injury, suffering neck and back fractures from an earlier race accident. De Ferran snatched the lead from teammate Hélio Castroneves and kept him at bay until the finish flag dropped. The difference was just 0.299 seconds.
At the end of 2003, de Ferran announced he was ending his career. He would go on to Formula 1, but as a team principal. He was sporting director of BAR-Honda from 2005 to 2007, and would race in the ALMS in an LMP2 in 2008, and an LMP1 in 2009.
Later on, Gil de Ferran would be team principal in the de Ferran Dragon Racing team he co-owned. In 2018, he became sporting director with McLaren in F1, and he oversaw McLaren’s project to get Fernando Alonso in his first Indy 500. De Ferran was still a consultant for McLaren.
“A fearless racer”
Roger Penske said: “Gil was beloved by so many. He was a great friend to the Team Penske and Indycar family. He will be deeply missed.”
McLaren CEO Zak Brown: “Gil was not only a dear friend but a fearless racer whose passion and determination on the track inspired us all. I’ve raced with Gil all over the world and watched him win some of the biggest races. His time with us here at McLaren Racing has been pivotal in our forward development.”
