Gilles Stafler appointed EWC Sporting and Technical Co-ordinator – FIM EWC
Gilles Stafler appointed sporting and technical coordinator of the EWC
The FIM Endurance World Championship has received another boost ahead of the 2023 season getting underway at the 24 Heures Motos at Le Mans next month.
After confirming 38 permanent teams for the upcoming title hunt – an increase of 22 percent compared to last season – EWC promoter Discovery Sports Events is pleased to welcome Gilles Stafler to its experienced organizing team as sporting and technical coordinator.
Stafler, 61, brings a wealth of experience to the newly created position after leading Team SRC Kawasaki France to the highest honors at the 2018-19 FIM Endurance World Championship for teams.
Stafler, a former rider, ended his longtime team management role with the recent sale of his outfit to Ryuji Tsuruta through a partnership with Japanese organizations River Crane (Webike) and Motohouse Co.
Stafler will be joined in his new position by his wife Isabelle, a key component in the success of SRC, which closed the 2022 EWC season with a third place finish at the 100th Anniversary Bol d’Or last September.
Welcome by Gilles Stafler in the role of sporting and technical coordinator of the EWC, Jean-Baptiste Ley, the EWC Series Director for Discovery Sports Events, said: “This is a very important step for the EWC to be able to validate the hiring of someone with Gilles’ experience and knowledge. His understanding of endurance racing and the regulations is second to none and he can only continue to improve the sporting and organizational level of the championship. Gilles will be on site at all EWC events, working closely with our colleagues at the FIM as well as with Renaud Jeanfils, the EWC events manager and coordinator of the teams. One of Gilles’ priorities will be bringing new teams into the Championship and there is no better person to do that.”
Giles Stafler said: “I am very pleased to be working with Discovery Sports Events, even if it is a somewhat new challenge for me. I have the position of sporting and technical coordinator for the four races of the World Endurance Championship, but also to keep in touch with the teams during the winter months. I’ll be listening to the teams on the challenges they might face, but also on the technical approach to the rules. I would also like to increase the participation of new teams in the EWC as much as possible. I look forward to starting my new role in pre-testing for the 24 Heures Motos on March 28-29.”