Extreme E mourns loss of Gil de Ferran

The two-time CART IndyCar Series champion and winner of the 2003 Indianapolis 500 will be sorely missed throughout the motorsport community.

After beginning his racing career in Europe, claiming the 1992 British Formula 3 championship and victories in Formula 3000 – known today as Formula 2 – de Ferran moved to the US, taking 12 wins across CART and IndyCar, as well as those aforementioned titles in 2000 and 2001.

De Ferran also had a stint racing in sportscars, winning five of 10 races in 2009 competing in the American Le Mans Series with team-mate and future IndyCar champion Simon Pagenaud.

Outside of the cockpit, de Ferran held the role of Sporting Director for the BAR Honda Formula 1 team from 2005 to 2007. de Ferran undertook a similar position at McLaren from 2018 to 2021, and later returned to the team as a consultant.

De Ferran was also jointly responsible for the launch of the pioneering Extreme E championship. Over a coffee in London back in 2019, de Ferran and Alejandro Agag came up with the concept of electric SUV racing in extreme environments with the aim to showcase e-SUV innovation and performance, whilst raising awareness, inspiring action and highlighting the impact of climate change and environmental degradation.

On the tragic loss of de Ferran, Alejandro Agag, Founder and CEO of Extreme E, said: “I am heartbroken today by the news of the passing of my dear friend and co-founder of Extreme E, Gil de Ferran. Rest in peace, my brother.

“Your memory and your legacy will always be with us. It is a sad day for the world of motorsport, which loses a hero.”

De Ferran, 56, is survived by his wife, Angela, daughter Anna, and son Luke. The Extreme E team extends its support and condolences to the de Ferran family during this difficult time.