GIL de FERRAN: Out Of Retirement To Run ALMS | FerrariChat
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GIL de FERRAN: Out Of Retirement To Run ALMS

Discussion in 'Other Racing' started by RP, Jan 29, 2008.

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  1. RP

    RP F1 World Champ

    Feb 9, 2005
    17,667
    Bocahuahua, Florxico
    Full Name:
    Tone Def
    #1 RP, Jan 29, 2008
    (from autosport)


    Gil de Ferran will come out of retirement to contest the American Le Mans Series with his own team this season.

    The former Indy 500 winner and two-time Champ Car champion has formed De Ferran Motorsports to field an Acura ARX-01b in the LMP2 class.

    "I'm so eager to get back in the driver's seat and the ALMS is spectacular," he said. "This will be a challenge for me both on and off the track, and we're working hard to put the remaining pieces in place now."

    After his retirement, De Ferran served as Honda F1's sporting director from 2005-07.

    As well as his landing back-to-back Champ Car titles in 2000 and '01, he also holds the record for the fastest ever qualifying lap on a closed circuit, setting an average speed of 241.43mph at the California Speedway in 2001.

    His new team will be based near Indianapolis, with veteran crew chief John Anderson appointed as general manager. A co-driver for De Ferran is still to be confirmed.

    ALMS president Scott Atherton added: "Gil is another A list name for the series. His stellar career exemplifies excellence in our industry and there's no doubt in my mind that he'll be successful both as a driver and a team boss."

    De Ferran's car will be the fourth Acura in the ALMS with factory backing, with the marque having supported Andretti Green Racing, Highcroft Racing and Lowe's Fernandez Racing last season.

    Although, he is not expected to contest his first race until the Long Beach round on April 17-19.
     
  2. jknight

    jknight F1 Veteran

    Oct 30, 2004
    7,821
    Central Texas
    #2 jknight, Jan 29, 2008
    the more the merrier! too bad it won't be until Long Beach - now if Ganassi would come up with a P2 with a Lexus power plant that would be great

    Carol
     
  3. yzee

    yzee F1 Veteran
    Silver Subscribed

    Apr 16, 2005
    9,126
    Bodegata
    Full Name:
    Michael
    #3 yzee, Jan 29, 2008
    Rahal will stay with the GT3 RSR for 2008, but rumors of RLR in the new M3 in 2009 with factory support. He is a BMW dealer and his son has done some PR work for them.

    Something new every day.
     
  4. DAYTONASME

    DAYTONASME Formula Junior

    Jan 12, 2007
    646
    Manchester UK
    Full Name:
    DAYTONASME
    #4 DAYTONASME, Jan 30, 2008
    "the more the merrier! too bad it won't be until Long Beach - now if Ganassi would come up with a P2 with a Lexus power plant that would be great"

    +1
     
  5. Nembo1777

    Nembo1777 F1 World Champ

    Nov 4, 2006
    11,557
    opposite lock
    Full Name:
    Marc Sonnery
    #5 Nembo1777, Jan 30, 2008
    Gil is a very nice guy and a gentleman: he was my teammate at Amity racing in England in 1988 in Formula Ford: I beat him a lot: huh about 5% of the time:) Once I outqualified him at Silverstone on the GP circuit the day of the truck GP, I was way up the grid somehow, it was an Esso series race so I rented a video camera after qualifying and stuck it into a friends hands.

    At one point the video shows the team manager Alan Mitchell talking to me on the grid and Gil is just behind in his car, his eyes just about popping out of his helmet at seeing me in front.

    Guess who came flying around the outside of me in Stowe corner on the first lap to make a point;-)?!

    One time at Oulton Park he was shunted out by Niko Palhares another Brazilian and I came third, somehow.
    I gave him a ride back to Silverstone that evening, he was pretty glum, then I put a conrod through the block of my Peugeot station wagon and we rode the rest of the way in the cabin of a flatbed! I was still ecstatic at my result though!

    A few years ago jogging on Las Olas in Fort Lauderdale he suddenly pulled up in front of me in an SUV with Justin Bell and their wives. We chatted then when I realized I had a Montoya tee shirt on I pretended to cover it with my hands hands and said oops I am sorry. A minute later he got me back by saying hey don't stand so close to the traffic it is ok to get run over but you don't want to get run over in a Montoya tee shirt!:)

    I saw him again after he won Indy and a brick was put in for him when he got the key to the city of Fort Lauderdale near the performing arts center and the new river.

    I look forawrd to seeing him race again: boa sorte!

    Marc Sonnery
     
  6. pacific11

    pacific11 Formula Junior

    Jul 9, 2006
    485
    #6 pacific11, May 10, 2008

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