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| Stéphane Ratel | |
|---|---|
| Name | Stéphane Ratel |
| Birth date | 1957 |
| Birth place | Paris, France |
| Nationality | French |
| Occupation | Motorsport executive, promoter |
| Known for | Founder of SRO Motorsports Group, GT racing |
Stéphane Ratel is a French motorsport executive and promoter best known for founding the SRO Motorsports Group and for creating and developing GT racing series worldwide. He has played a central role in shaping modern grand tourer competition, collaborating with manufacturers, circuits, teams, and sanctioning bodies across Europe, Asia, North America, and Australia. His work links to major events, organizations, and personalities in international motorsport and automotive industries.
Ratel was born in Paris and grew up during an era influenced by figures such as Enzo Ferrari, Colin Chapman, Carroll Shelby, Giorgetto Giugiaro, and Pininfarina. He pursued studies in business and automotive engineering that connected him to institutions like École Polytechnique, INSEAD, École des Mines de Paris, Université Paris-Dauphine, and Sorbonne University. During his formative years he engaged with circuits and clubs including Circuit de la Sarthe, Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, Monza Circuit, Silverstone Circuit, and Circuit Paul Ricard, while following championships such as the 24 Hours of Le Mans, FIA World Endurance Championship, Formula One World Championship, Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft, and European Touring Car Championship.
Ratel began his career working with teams and promoters linked to figures like Jean Todt, Maurizio Flammini, Graham Hill, Ron Dennis, and Tom Walkinshaw. Early projects put him in contact with manufacturers such as Porsche, Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Audi, Lamborghini, Aston Martin, Ferrari, and McLaren. In the 1990s he founded what became the SRO Motorsports Group, collaborating with series and organizations like FIA, ACO, Motorsport UK, Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile, IMSA, SCCA, GT World Challenge, Blancpain Endurance Series, and promoters including WSC Ltd. and McLaren Group-linked operations. His early work intersected with circuits and promoters behind Nürburgring, Hockenheimring, Brands Hatch, Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, and Circuit de Monaco.
Ratel led the creation and expansion of GT championships that connected manufacturers Bentley, Nissan, Toyota, Lexus, Alfa Romeo, Ford, Chevrolet, Cadillac, and Jaguar with teams such as AF Corse, M-Sport, Team WRT, Grove Racing, Strakka Racing, and Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing. He developed formats used in events like the Spa 24 Hours, Bathurst 12 Hour, 24 Hours of Nürburgring, Monza 12 Hours, and Paul Ricard 1000km, aligning with governing instruments including the FIA GT Championship, FIA World Touring Car Championship, Intercontinental GT Challenge, GT4 European Series, and GT3 regulations. His initiatives engaged broadcast partners and commercial stakeholders like Eurosport, Sky Sports, BT Sport, ESPN, Turner Sports, Dorna Sports, and Liberty Media.
SRO under Ratel expanded into event organization, hospitality, and commercial rights, negotiating with circuits and entities such as Goodwood Circuit, Circuit of The Americas, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Dubai Autodrome, Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit, Suzuka Circuit, Sepang International Circuit, Shanghai International Circuit, and Yas Marina Circuit. He structured partnerships with automotive OEMs, investment groups, and promoters including Volkswagen Group, Stellantis, General Motors, Toyota Motor Corporation, Exor (company), CVC Capital Partners, Oliver Smith (promoter), and Reed Exhibitions. Ratel's operations touched ancillary industries and events like Geneva Motor Show, Frankfurt Motor Show, Goodwood Festival of Speed, Le Mans Classic, and Essen Motor Show, and involved media outlets such as Autosport, Motorsport Magazine, Top Gear, Road & Track, and Autocar.
Ratel contributed to the development and harmonization of GT technical standards, working with technical directors, committees, and authorities including figures and bodies from the FIA World Motor Sport Council, FIA GT Commission, ACO Technical Commission, JAS Motorsport, SRO Technical Department, and independent homologation entities like FIA Homologation Commission. His advocacy influenced the adoption of balance of performance frameworks, aligning with manufacturers and teams represented by Prodrive, Craft-Bamboo Racing, AF Corse, Bentley Motorsport, and RML Group. Collaboration and negotiation involved engineers and technical leaders associated with Michelin, Pirelli, Dunlop, Bosch, Magneti Marelli, and ZF Friedrichshafen AG in establishing testing, safety, and performance regulations used across series such as FIA GT3, GT4, and GT2 European Series.
Ratel has been recognized by peers, manufacturers, and institutions connected to FIA, ACO, Motorsport UK, Royal Automobile Club, Automobile Club de l'Ouest, and industry awards presented at events like Autosport Awards, GT Awards, Historic Motorsport Awards, Le Mans Endurance Series Awards, and national honors in France and United Kingdom. His legacy is reflected in the proliferation of GT racing platforms used by manufacturers Porsche, Aston Martin, Mercedes-AMG, Audi Sport, and Lamborghini Squadra Corse and in the careers of drivers who progressed through his series, including names linked to Formula 1, DTM, WEC, and IMSA grids. Institutional impact connects to training and talent pathways tied to entities such as FIA Institute, Young Driver Academy, GT Academy, Racing Steps Foundation, and Renault Sport Academy.
Category:French motorsport personalities Category:Motorsport promoters Category:1957 births Category:Living people