Gil de Ferran joins BAR as Sporting Director

**Adam43** · 5 Apr 2005, 21:51 (Ref:1271284)

He has become the sporting director of BAR accoring to autosport.com http://www.autosport-atlas.com/news.aspx?id=43387&s=9

Quote:

De Ferran, who is due to start work for the team next Monday, has been drafted in to help oversee BAR's activities during a race weekend. It is hoped that he will ease some of the pressures currently faced by CEO Nick Fry and BAR technical director Geoff Willis.

An interesting development. I wonder how he shall do. Good luck to him.

ASCII Man · 5 Apr 2005, 21:59 (Ref:1271288)

Whoa cool!

StickShift · 5 Apr 2005, 22:00 (Ref:1271289)

I'm really happy to see de Ferran get this oppurtunity. It's nice that Honda is rewarding his tremendous driving in Cart and the IRL with this job. Previously, he had been a commentator for the IRL, it left something to be desired.

I just hope he isn't savaged by the BAR politcal machine...

thejester · 5 Apr 2005, 22:02 (Ref:1271291)

Damn, can't read the article.
Any more specifics regarding his role other than 'oversee BAR's activities'
Sounds like a celebrity guest

StickShift · 5 Apr 2005, 22:04 (Ref:1271292)

Quote:

Originally Posted by thejester

Damn, can't read the article.
Any more specifics regarding his role other than 'oversee BAR's activities'
Sounds like a celebrity guest

http://www.autosport-atlas.com/News.aspx?id=43387&s=5

Quote:

De Ferran will take a hands-on role in running the cars over a Grand Prix weekend - getting involved in the procedural and strategy decisions that Willis was previously overseeing.

And Sato's new spotter probably... "Car on your left Taku... Aye-yae-yae!"

thejester · 5 Apr 2005, 22:07 (Ref:1271296)

Ta.
& tee hee.

Testure · 5 Apr 2005, 22:33 (Ref:1271311)

Good grief. Is this for real? Gil is/was arguably one of the best open-wheel drivers never to race in F1. He was terrific. Does he have any experience at all of this sort of role, though?

Pitpass: http://www.pitpass.com/fes_php/pitpa...s_art_id=24040

StickShift · 5 Apr 2005, 22:45 (Ref:1271318)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Testure

Good grief. Is this for real? Gil is/was arguably one of the best open-wheel drivers never to race in F1. He was terrific. Does he have any experience at all of this sort of role, though?

Pitpass: http://www.pitpass.com/fes_php/pitpa...s_art_id=24040

If his role in the team is to oversee GP weekend strategy, I'd argue that his time in CART and the IRL is excellent experience for the job. In general, pit strategy in those two series are much more vital than they are in F1. Many races have been won by excellent pit strategy.

alesi95 · 5 Apr 2005, 22:57 (Ref:1271324)

Why.....why, why!?

This is quite brainless. a nonsensical. What qualifications does De Ferran have for this job?

Other than Honda quite like him.

Testure · 5 Apr 2005, 23:07 (Ref:1271332)

Quote:

Originally Posted by StickShift

If his role in the team is to oversee GP weekend strategy, I'd argue that his time in CART and the IRL is excellent experience for the job. In general, pit strategy in those two series are much more vital than they are in F1. Many races have been won by excellent pit strategy.

Yeah, absolutely. But he wasn't necessarily the one making the calls, was he? He's an awesome driver and I really, really hope this doesn't turn out to be a bad idea for him...

JeremySmith · 6 Apr 2005, 00:47 (Ref:1271368)

I thought it was a joke when I first read the article..They know something we don't is all I can say..Good luck to Gil de Ferran

mountainstar · 6 Apr 2005, 04:27 (Ref:1271444)

Well you know there are some drivers like hakkinen that are brillant at racing but not much else. De ferran is a pretty smart guy as well as having that first hand racing experience which most of the pit lane jockeys lack. I think he'll do great.

Refutation · 6 Apr 2005, 04:39 (Ref:1271449)

Gil De Ferra has a degree in engineering.I don't think they'd hire him if he didn't have the qualifications for the job.I think he'll be great for BAR,he's funny,he should be able to get the dis out of the fuctional in BAR right now.

Kicking-back · 6 Apr 2005, 06:12 (Ref:1271466)

Gil de Ferran's wife is English - it may fit in with the family's wish to move back to the UK.

BootsOntheSide · 6 Apr 2005, 14:09 (Ref:1271737)

The more I think about this it seems like a decision far too smart for some tenthers to appreciate. US racing can be much mroe strategic than ours, and he's bound to be able to make good calls regarding pitting under safety cars and making the best use of restarts in particular. The fact that he hasn't raced in F1 means nothing - Eddie Jordan, Frank Williams and even bernie were all good drivers who didn't make it to F1, and they've done extremely well (better than Prost or Lauda, certainly).

Kraz · 6 Apr 2005, 15:00 (Ref:1271768)

I think the addition of Gil De Feran to BAR is positive. I think it will be good for Sato and JB to discuss race strategy/tactics with a knowledgable driver.

However, unless BARS mechanical problems can be sorted out Gil may only be able to help the drivers decide what side of the track to park the car.

429CJ · 6 Apr 2005, 16:51 (Ref:1271849)

I've heard Nick Fry likes to work more on the background, so I think De Ferran will be guy to be seen more publically, like on interviews and such.

BootsOntheSide · 6 Apr 2005, 16:57 (Ref:1271853)

That would work well, as from what I remember Gil is a very popular and charismatic chap, he's a very multiliterate and multinational character (born in Paris, of Spanish ancestry, raised in Brazil and married to an Englishwoman) so he's a good PR figurehead. Not to say that he can't add lots of the team's efforts at the same time though.

Snrub · 6 Apr 2005, 17:17 (Ref:1271867)

I'm not sure of the full scope of sporting director, but De Faren was well known for being stratagic while driving. He's smart and stikes me as a nice guy, something F1 is really short of.

Maybe his first call as sporting director and most valuable contribution will be for him to drive as teammate to Button.

I'm joking, but De Faren was one heck of a driver.

GP Racer · 6 Apr 2005, 21:54 (Ref:1272086)

Well, I hope he does better with BAR than he has done with the IRL in the announcing booth! Pretty awful all-in-all.

Comments like, "this is to scary, I can't watch", or "ooooohhh, there to close", just wasn't cutting it!

Good luck Gil.

Jordi · 6 Apr 2005, 22:53 (Ref:1272121)

I really wish Gil succeeds. He was a favourite of mine when racing and it's great that he'll be around here these days

JohnSSC · 7 Apr 2005, 02:01 (Ref:1272176)

Good luck to Gil in what seems to be a bit of a shark tank at BAR.

He is a smart guy, a good racer and just might be what they need: someone to interface with the drivers and engineers.

Liz · 10 Apr 2005, 12:46 (Ref:1274694)

Gil de Ferran was a development driver from early in his career, and has done a lot of the testing work with Honda; he's well known as a man who knows more about tires than they are round and black; and except for two times I have not heard him publically dissing even the worst car he's had or the dumb questions he has been asked. (The time when Bobby Unser asked him why, since "you're being paid the Big Bucks", the drivers didn't want to drive in a torrential rainstorm in Vancouver, de Ferran said tartly "That is the stupidest question I have ever heard" and walked away leaving Unser with his mouth flapping like a fish.)

Gil has been very quiet over his career, not blowing a trumpet about what he is doing, and I'm looking forward to seeing what he can do with this new challenge.

RaceFreak · 14 Apr 2005, 00:22 (Ref:1277670)

One never wants to come into an organization at the top of it's game. Who would want to succeed Jean Todt or Flavio ? The only way to go is down, and you suffer by comparison.

Gil's no fool. He recognizes that BAR is a ship on the rocks. Honda must be considering Hara-Kari given Toyota's success. ANY improvement at all and he'll look good. Lets face it, the only way to go is up for BAR. Minardi's had better reliability.......

Good move, Gil !

**chunterer** · 20 Apr 2005, 10:03 (Ref:1282835)

Thread bit old now but i'm secrelty hoping that he can help massage his Penske buddy Helio's path into F1 before it's too late! Maybe not with BAR but somewhere?!

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Ex-HRT Director Joins #9	GTRMagic	Australasian Touring Cars.	12	19 Apr 2006 23:34
De Ferran wins	marcus	IRL Indycar Series	10	22 Jul 2003 16:47
Gil de Ferran to appear tonight at Letterman	Muzza	IRL Indycar Series	1	2 Jun 2003 19:19
Will De Ferran retire ???	marcus	IRL Indycar Series	10	26 Sep 2002 15:59
Update on Gil De Ferran	marcus	IRL Indycar Series	14	11 Sep 2002 11:01