Stéphane Ratel Organisation
Encyclopedia
The Stéphane Ratel Organisation (abbreviated as SRO) is a motorsports organization founded by French driver Stéphane Ratel in 1995. Currently based out of London, the company is involved in the promotion, support, and organization of various national and international auto racing series around the world. The group is backed by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile
(FIA), who provide the regulations for all international and most national SRO series. Local regulatory bodies also assist the SRO, such as the Fédération Française du Sport Automobile
(FFSA) and Royal Automobile Club of Belgium (RACB).
Stéphane Ratel had originally founded the Venturi Trophy in the early 1990s before assisting in the creation of the BPR Global GT Series
in 1994. Ratel would found the SRO to expand on his experience with BPR and begin to expand smaller national or one-make series.
-based, but not all. Nowadays, most SRO-run national series have adapted the racing formula that the FIA GT3 European Championship
laid out in 2006 with its founding by the SRO and FIA.
The SRO has also taken over promotion and organisation activities for existing series, such as Belcar
and the FFSA GT Championship
.
Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile
The Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile is a non-profit association established as the Association Internationale des Automobile Clubs Reconnus on 20 June 1904 to represent the interests of motoring organisations and motor car users...
(FIA), who provide the regulations for all international and most national SRO series. Local regulatory bodies also assist the SRO, such as the Fédération Française du Sport Automobile
Fédération Française du Sport Automobile
Fédération Française du Sport Automobile , was founded in 1952, with the aim of organising, regulating and developing motorsport in France....
(FFSA) and Royal Automobile Club of Belgium (RACB).
Stéphane Ratel had originally founded the Venturi Trophy in the early 1990s before assisting in the creation of the BPR Global GT Series
BPR Global GT Series
The BPR Global GT Series was a grand tourer-based sports car racing series which ran from 1994 to 1996 before becoming the FIA GT Championship in 1997...
in 1994. Ratel would found the SRO to expand on his experience with BPR and begin to expand smaller national or one-make series.
SRO Motorsports Group
The main organisation of the SRO is the Motorsports Group, which acts as organizers for auto racing series. Although the main group works with all series, there are German, Belgium, and Latin American divisions that concentrate on specific series within their region. Most racing series are grand tourerGrand tourer
A grand tourer is a high-performance luxury automobile designed for long-distance driving. The most common format is a two-door coupé with either a two-seat or a 2+2 arrangement....
-based, but not all. Nowadays, most SRO-run national series have adapted the racing formula that the FIA GT3 European Championship
FIA GT3 European Championship
The FIA GT3 European Championship is a sports car racing series organized by the Stéphane Ratel Organisation and regulated by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile . It is a championship derived from the international FIA GT1 World Championship, but meant to provide competition for more...
laid out in 2006 with its founding by the SRO and FIA.
The SRO has also taken over promotion and organisation activities for existing series, such as Belcar
Belcar
The Belcar Endurance Championship is the national sports car racing championship of Belgium. The series is sanctioned by the Royal Automobile Club of Belgium and run by the Stéphane Ratel Organisation . The series' title sponsor is Mediagroep Van Dyck.Since the 2007 season, the series has run...
and the FFSA GT Championship
FFSA GT Championship
The GT Tour is a French Grand Touring-style sports car racing series that began in 1997. It is controlled by the Fédération Française du Sport Automobile and organized by racing company Oreca...
.
Current series
- FIA GT1 World ChampionshipFIA GT1 World ChampionshipThe FIA GT1 World Championship is a world championship sports car racing series developed by the SRO Group and regulated by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile . It features multiple grand tourer race cars based on production road cars and conforming with the GT1 regulations competing in...
- FIA GT3 European ChampionshipFIA GT3 European ChampionshipThe FIA GT3 European Championship is a sports car racing series organized by the Stéphane Ratel Organisation and regulated by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile . It is a championship derived from the international FIA GT1 World Championship, but meant to provide competition for more...
- GT Endurance Series
- GT4 European CupGT4 European CupThe GT4 European Cup is a sports car championship created and organized by the Stéphane Ratel Organisation and sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile . It is an amateur championship which follows a formula similar to the FIA GT3 European Championship, which is itself derived...
- Dutch GT4 Championship
- British GT ChampionshipBritish GT ChampionshipThe Avon Tyres British GT Championship is a sports car racing series currently based in the United Kingdom, although they have had select races outside of Britain in the past few years. The series was created by the British Racing Drivers' Club in 1993 and for its first two seasons was called the...
- British Formula 3 International SeriesBritish Formula Three ChampionshipThe British Formula Three Championship is an international motor racing series that takes place primarily in the United Kingdom with a small number of events in mainland Europe. It is a junior-level feeder formula that uses small single seater Formula Three chassis. Its current official title is...
- FFSA GT ChampionshipFFSA GT ChampionshipThe GT Tour is a French Grand Touring-style sports car racing series that began in 1997. It is controlled by the Fédération Française du Sport Automobile and organized by racing company Oreca...
- ADAC GT MastersADAC GT MastersThe ADAC GT Masters is a grand tourer-based auto racing series founded by the international Stéphane Ratel Organisation and supported by the German ADAC automotive club. Similar to an earlier ADAC GT Cup series in the 1990s, the new GT Masters ran their first season in 2007...
- Belgian GT Championship
- GT BrasilGT BrasilThe GT Brasil formerly known as GT3 Brasil Championship, is a sports car racing series currently is a sports car racing series based in the Brazil, organized by the Stéphane Ratel Organisation and regulated by the Confederação Brasileira de Automobilismo .-History:Starting in 2007, the GT3 Brasil...
- GT90's Revival Series
- Formula Renault 2.0 UK ChampionshipBritish Formula Renault ChampionshipThe United Kingdom has two Formula Renault championships: Renault Sport UK's Formula Renault UK championship and the British Automobile Racing Club's BARC Formula Renault championship. Generally, the UK series is recognized as the British Formula Renault.-History:The "British Formula Renault...
- Renault Clio Cup UK Series
Former series
- Venturi Trophy
- BPR Global GT SeriesBPR Global GT SeriesThe BPR Global GT Series was a grand tourer-based sports car racing series which ran from 1994 to 1996 before becoming the FIA GT Championship in 1997...
- GTR EuroseriesGTR EuroseriesThe GTR Euroseries was a short-lived auto racing series which ran in 1998. It was created as an alternative to the international FIA GT Championship, while combining elements of the former BPR Global GT Series...
- LamborghiniLamborghiniAutomobili Lamborghini S.p.A., commonly referred to as Lamborghini , is an Italian car manufacturer. The company was founded by manufacturing magnate Ferruccio Lamborghini in 1963, with the objective of producing a refined grand touring car to compete with established offerings from marques like...
Supertrophy - FIA GT ChampionshipFIA GT ChampionshipThe FIA GT Championship was a sports car racing series organized by the Stéphane Ratel Organisation at the behest of the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile . The championship was mostly concentrated in Europe, but throughout the years has visited other continents including Asia and South...