SRO Takes Ownership Stake of PWC; Ratel Named to Board of Directors

Photo: Brian Cleary/BCPix.com

SRO Motorsports Group, organizers of the Blancpain GT Series, has become a stakeholder in Pirelli World Challenge, with Stephane Ratel having been named to WC Vision’s Board of Directors as part of the new agreement.

The announcement was made Thursday at Long Beach, site of this weekend’s third round of the PWC season.

Ratel’s organization began working with WC Vision in 2015 and has taken an increased role this year, through technical collaboration with SRO’s Balance of Performance system, as well as recent management support.

The Frenchman said in a Sportscar365 interview last month that he could eventually take an ownership role in the PWC, although had initially ruled it out for the short-term.

Terms of the deal, and SRO’s exact stake in the company, have not been disclosed.

“Working with Stephane and his SRO Motorsports Group, a great relationship has been established with WC Vision over the past year,” said PWC President and CEO Greg Gill.

“We have an open forum with their officials to work closely on the technical side with the GT3 regulations.

“Now, having Stephane join our Board of Directors, this definitely gives WC Vision and the Pirelli World Challenge a worldwide perspective from the leader in GT racing.”

In addition to running the popular Blancpain GT Series, SRO operates a number of other championships worldwide, including the British GT Championship, GT4 European Series as well as the new-for-2015 Intercontinental GT Challenge.

Ratel joins fellow WC Vision shareholders Bob Woodhouse, Peter Cunningham, Jim Haughey and Charles Morgan as a member on the board.

“Our alliance with WC Vision and Pirelli World Challenge has been outstanding,” Ratel said. 

“We have enjoyed working closely with Greg and his entire WC Vision staff as well as getting to know the WC Vision Board members.

“I’m very enthusiastic about joining the Board of Directors and the outlook for the company’s future.

“I see great potential in the Pirelli World Challenge and I can’t wait to work more closely within the series.”

John Dagys

John Dagys is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Sportscar365. Dagys spent eight years as a motorsports correspondent for FOXSports.com and SPEED Channel and has contributed to numerous other motorsports publications worldwide. Contact John