SRO Motorsports Group has split the money raised through fines during the 2023 racing season among a selection of good causes.
The fund comes from three series: GT World Challenge Europe, GT2 European Series and GT4 European Series. Please note that fines can be issued for a range of infringements, including unsportsmanlike behavior and speeding in the pit lane, as well as team infringements such as breaching rules.
The money will be distributed to a number of carefully selected causes, both internationally and domestically. Among the first, help was offered in February 2023, after a powerful earthquake struck southern and central Turkey. More than 37,000 people are known to have died, while countless others across the region were left homeless and in need of basic necessities.
The founder and CEO of SRO Motorsports Group, Stéphane Ratel, has pledged to contribute $10,000 towards relief efforts. The funds were used by Trendyol, an e-commerce company based in Turkey, which has created an international contribution platform to provide essential items such as clothes, tents and sanitary products.
A donation was also made to the family of the OAD logistics coordinator, Jérémy Bellefontaine. On Christmas Day 2022, Jérémy's wife Pauline was hospitalized due to a serious infection; she later fell into a coma and risked losing her life. Unfortunately, the infection resulted in the amputation of both feet.
Pauline has since shown remarkable strength and resilience, returning to work and learning to drive again. She was given money to support the family in adapting to these new circumstances, which required a change of house and car.
#46 Team WRT, BMW M4 GT3: Raffaele Marciello, Valentino Rossi, Maxime Martin
Photo by: SRO
SRO also helped support Racing for Dilano, a charitable foundation that supports mental recovery and rehabilitation following road accidents. It was established in 2023 to remember Dilano van't Hoff, a young driver who lost his life while competing in FRECA, organized in support of the 24 Hours of Spa.
Another donation was made to Leukaemia Care in memory of Bernard Cottrell, who passed away in 2021 after a long battle with leukemia. Bernard was one of the most popular and oldest members of the British motoring community, as well as a regular visitor to the SRO paddock.
Leukemia Care is the UK's leading leukemia charity, providing people with a diagnosis with advice, treatment and support.
Finally, a donation was made to help two track marshals who were injured during last year's 24h of Spa-Francorchamps. The event organizer and the circuit have set up a fund through the Pêcheur de Lune association.
The aim is to help the families of the commissioners, who will not be able to work until they have fully recovered.
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