Single seat
Former pilot Michel Ferté dies
Michel Ferté in the March 85B Cosworth of the Oreca team in Austria in 1985. © DPPI
The 2023 motorsport year begins on a sad note. Two days after the disappearance of Ken Block in a snowmobile accident, another pilot left us this Wednesday, January 4: Michel Ferté.
Alain Ferté's younger brother had been fighting an illness for many months. Born in Falaise (Calvados) on December 8, 1958, Michel Ferté first climbed the traditional ranks of the car French. The Marlboro Flying, a detection operation set up by the famous tobacco company, which he obtained in 1980 allowed him to access the National Championship of Formula 3, which he added to his list of achievements in 1983.
His rise to Formula 1 reached his peak when he became a test driver for Ligier between 1983 and 1986, but he was never able to take part in a Grand Prix. Aware of this glass ceiling, Michel Ferté reoriented himself towards the F3000. He finished 5th in 1985 and 1986 (the best ranking among French drivers) and would ride at this level until 1989.
He also distinguished himself in the French Supertourism Championship (vice-champion with BMW in 1990), at Andros Trophy and on ice races, as well as in the short-lived but renowned BPR Championship (European Champion in 1994). But it is to 24 Hours of Le Mans that he made an impression thanks to his 13 participations between 1983 and 2003. His best result came in 1991, where his Jaguar XJR-12 with a 12-liter V7.4 engine failed two laps behind the victorious Mazda 787B, in 2nd place.
Michel Ferté shared the wheel of this Jaguar with Davy Jones and Raul Boesel at Le Mans in 1991. © DPPI
The spectators present at the 24 Hours of Le Mans also remember the blue cars that he drove in the 1990s thanks to the partnership with the Pilot pen brand: Venturi 600 LM in 1994 (abandonment, engine), but especially the Ferrari F40 LM in 1995 (12th) and 1996 (abandonment, fire) as well as the melodious Ferrari 333 SP which he entered in his own team in 1997 and 1998, without further success (abandonments).
His last appearance in Sarthe dates back to 2003, where he tried to take a Ferrari 550 Maranello to the finish, without succeeding.
To his family, his brother Alain, his loved ones and his friends, AUTOhebdo sends its sincere condolences.
Medhi Casaurang
Passionate about the history of motorsport across all disciplines, I learned to read thanks to AUTOhebdo. At least that's what my parents tell everyone when they see my name inside!
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