The news of Gil de Ferran’s sudden passing broke overnight, leaving the motorsport world in shock ahead of the new year. Gil passed away after suffering a reported cardiac arrest during a private driving event in Florida.
The French-born Brazillian was best known for his single-seater exploits in North America. His CV in that area is glittering. He holds IndyCar’s fastest qualifying average (241.428mph), has two CART IndyCar Series championships and an Indy 500 win (2003) to his name.
However, on these pages, de Ferran is best remembered for his time spent as a team owner/driver in the American Le Mans Series in the late noughties.
Racing with Acura after a stint as Honda’s sporting director in Formula 1, de Ferran formed a part of the memorable 2008 ALMS season with a partial-season campaign in the LMP2 class with the ARX-01b. That season he raced with Simon Pagenaud and Scott Dixon at the longer races, and enjoyed a podium finish on his debut at Utah that season.
It would turn out to be the team’s best result during the campaign, up against other Acura opposition in LMP2 from Andretti Green, Lowes Fernandez and Highcroft Racing and the Porsche RS Spyders operated by Penske and Dyson Racing.
The team then went on to continue to fly the flag for Acura in 2009, though in this time in LMP1 with the short-lived Acura ARX-02a. That season, which featured a thin full-season field but plenty of entertainment, saw de Ferran’s team win five races en route to second in the standings, after a season-long duel with Highcroft Racing. The team was then closed at the end of the year when Acura decided to withdraw its factory support.
The final race for the team at Laguna Seca was an emotional one. Its ARX-02a was dressed in an all-white tribute livery as a tribute to Jim Hall’s iconic Chapparals (de Ferran had driven for Hall in CART in 1995 and 1996) as part of the commemoration of de Ferran’s retirement from driving (which was short-lived as he would return to racing in 2011 for the Gold Coast 600 V8 Supercars race!).
Beyond his talents on the cockpit and pit wall, de Ferran was known by those around him for his sense of humour and charisma, evident from the tributes from across the sport that have poured in this morning.
David Brabham: “I’m shocked and devastated to hear about my friend Gil de Ferran’s passing. Staying at his family home in Florida, eating and drinking by the BBQ, seeing our kids grow up together, we will miss you my friend.”
Michael Andretti: “Devastated and shocked by the loss of Gil de Ferran. Gil was a great competitor and an even better friend. My prayers are with Angela, Luke, Anna and all of Gil’s loved ones. Gone too soon. Rest in peace, Gil, you will be missed.”
David Salters: “All of us at Honda and HRC are deeply saddened by Gil de Ferran’s sudden passing,” said David Salters, president of HRC US. “Gil was a big part of the Honda racing family and CART heritage. He held a special place in our hearts.
“His accomplishments, championships and victories on the track are well-known. Listening to him recount his closed-course record run at Fontana raised the hair on the back of my neck, and does once again now. An extremely talented man and a brilliant racer.
“He also played multiple, vital roles off-track for Honda over the years. But above all, he was a loving husband and father. Our thoughts are now with his family, friends, and many fans around the world.”
James Hinchcliffe: “I am at a complete loss for words. Gil de Ferran was a legend of our sport and an inspiration and mentor to so many, myself included. Absolutely shocked at news of his passing. My heart goes out to his family and fans.”
Tony Kanaan: “Champion, friend, rival, mentor at the track and outside of it. I have no words to describe this loss. May you rest in peace my friend.”
Roger Penske: “We are terribly saddened to hear about today’s tragic passing of Gil de Ferran. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Angela, Anna, Luke and the entire de Ferran family. Gil defined the class as a driver and as a gentleman. As an IndyCar champion and an Indy 500 winner, Gil accomplished so much during his career, both on and off the track.
“Gil was beloved by so many. He was a great friend to the Team Penske and IndyCar family, as well as the entire International motorsports community. Gil’s passing is a terrible loss and he will be deeply missed.”
Gil de Ferran is survived by his wife Angela and children Anna and Luke. DSC sends its sincere condolences to all of Gil’s family and friends.
