Nephew: “I’m going to miss it all terribly”

For Gérard Neveu, the New Year was certainly special. He is no longer the director of WEC and ELMS. A few days before leaving his post, he gave us a long interview.

First of all, how are you feeling?

Torn. Taking on new challenges excites me. And at the same time, I deeply loved what I did over the last ten years, the people I worked with, and I will miss all of that terribly. I felt it a lot in Bahrain (mid-November. Editor's note) through looks, first and foremost within my own team.

A chapter of your life ending?

I experienced a bit of that at Paul-Ricard (where he was director from 2001 to 2011. Editor's note). But at the time, I knew where I was going. There, things are falling into place, but there will be a break of a few weeks. And I've known since July that I won't be here in January, so it's a bit of a weird transition period, but I'm already looking forward to other very interesting challenges.

The WEC has only known you at its head...

This is where all the ambiguity lies. When you put your all into it, you feel like you're absolutely necessary. It's not totally wrong, you must be a little bit, but at the same time every story, including that of the WEC, is in fact just a succession of episodes. The actors follow one another, some stay longer than others, but all leave. This is valid for the organizers, but also for the drivers and all those involved in this paddock. What is certain is that for ten years, I left for work every morning with a smile. I found my little commando of around thirty people (LMEM. Editor's note), increased to 150 people involved in the races. For everyone, it was a slice of life. Spending 200 days a year together traveling around the world creates bonds that are different from those between two colleagues who only meet in the office.

When you accepted the position in 2011, did you imagine yourself experiencing such an adventure?

Not for a moment could I have imagined what we have done over the last ten years. Or I would have had to be very, very pretentious. It was Pierre Fillon (then vice-president of the ACO. Editor's note) and Patrick Peter who came to find me. I had been at Ricard – this place that I still cherish so much – for around ten years and I wanted to put myself in danger. It was complicated to go into the unknown, especially since I was not at all immersed in the ACO culture-Le Mans.

How would you describe these 10 years spent at the head of the WEC, then the ELMS?

Extraordinary in the first sense of the word. It was unusual work and above all a fantastic human adventure. I have always strived to ensure that the human factor is the priority. It's a question of philosophy. Despite a very modern world, ever more digital and digital, I tend not to want to neglect humans. You have to know how to live with the times, but I have the firm conviction that it is people who can make the difference. We see it today with Covid. Researchers must find a vaccine and medical personnel must provide treatment. We certainly need resources, money, communication, politics, but without people, nothing works.

Even more in sport?

Indeed, and that’s why I love sport in general. In recent weeks, I have been overwhelmed by the Vendée Globe. These boats are technological gems, but it all depends on one man. If he's wrong, nothing works. And these skippers have real values... It's the same thing in motorsport, especially when it is practiced at a high level with passion as the common denominator. For us organizers of the WEC and ELMS, we had to follow in the footsteps of the great champions that we are supposed to support and serve, and therefore have a similar state of mind: irreproachable.

Find the full interview in the magazine AUTOhebdo n°2292.