Philippe Gurdjian, the former organizer of the French GP, has passed away

The former Grand Prix promoter and racing driver, Frenchman Philippe Gurdjian, passed away yesterday in Paris at the age of 69, taken by cancer.

Director of communication for Rothschild bank and then an advertiser at the beginning of his career, the native of Boulogne-sur-Seine ventured into the world of motorsport in the mid-1970s, participating in the establishment of the French “NOSCAR” production car championship with Jean-Pierre Beltoise. He also engaged as a gentleman driver in the 24 Hours of Le Mans in the late 1970s, even winning Group 4 in 1977 driving a Porsche 934, alongside his compatriot Bob Wollek and Belgian Jean-Pierre Wielemans.

Subsequently, in 1985, he left his activities within the advertising company GEMAP to become the promoter of the French Grand Prix of F1, which was then held at the Paul Ricard circuit in Le Castellet. Starting in 1991, the French round relocated to Magny-Cours, in the Nièvre, and he remained the organizer of the race between 1991 and 1997.

Subsequently, he will be given the role of consultant to the organizers of the Spanish Grand Prix before playing a key role in the establishment and organization of the Malaysian Grand Prix in 1999, the Bahrain Grand Prix in 2004, and the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in 2009. He also oversaw the renovation of the Castellet circuit in the 2000s before taking control until 2008 at the behest of his friend Bernie Ecclestone.

Philippe Gurdjian was repeatedly honored by the world of Formula 1 for the quality of the race organization under his responsibility.