Interview with Jean-François Veroux

How many people are part of  your team?

There are three Stewards, of whom two are permanent ones: Jean-Pierre Baudriller and me. The third Steward is appointed by the country hosting the event.

How do you become a Steward?

To be a Steward, you need to obtain a licence from your ASN -national Federation. For me it is the FFSA (French Motor Sport Federation). It is possible to become a Steward by moving up through different jobs, but you can also become one by demonstrating sufficient experience in the field of motor sport, and regulations in particular. In that case, the Federation grants permission for you to sit an official examination to test your knowledge. If you pass the exam successfully, you become a Steward.

That's what I did, and I was subsequently asked to chair the Panel of Stewards: the final step!

Tell us more about how you became President of the Panel of Stewards.

I know motor sport very well, having been a driver for over 28 years. I have driven in 180 national and international races, including the 24 Hours of Le Mans. I was therefore able to demonstrate my experience to the FFSA and become a Steward by taking the official exam. I was also a member of the FFSA's High Committee for 10 years, and I am still a judge in the international appeal court of the FIA.  I have also been a Formula 1 Steward.

How do you interact with the Race Director?

As a Steward, I monitor the application of the rules of the sport. The Race Director does that too, but from a far more immediate perspective via real-time management of the race. 

We are also an appeal body regarding some decisions made by such officials as the Scrutineers. The Race Director notifies us of any infraction committed by drivers or competitors. For example, in the case of repeated dangerous behaviour by a driver, the latter can be sanctioned and receive a reprimand, a fine, or even a ban. Fines can be as high as $50,000.  

What tasks do you have to carry out during the weekend?*

This morning, for example, we gave a ruling on a problem involving a non-compliant car following a report from the Technical Stewards. This means that two cars will not be starting in this weekend's race. We also reached a decision concerning a driver who was not attending the briefing. Unless there is a valid reason, that calls for a fine.

Another very important task is to draw up the starting grid. That is complicated, because you have to take into account some drivers who did not reach the minimum qualification requirements, some cars that will start with unmarked tyres and will therefore be demoted on the grid, last-minute driver substitutions, etc. All these things make it much harder to come up with a starting grid!

During the race, each time the Race Director flags up an infraction, we hold a hearing in the presence of all parties concerned. We summon and question the driver and the team manager. We watch the video tapes, and we can even hear witnesses. After all that, we deliberate and reach a decision.

We have also been known to rule on complaints between competitors.

Beyond this jurisdictional mission, I believe that we have an educational duty towards the competitors and drivers, which consists of enlightening them on determined points regarding the rules, as well as how we interpret and apply the rules. This naturally requires a dialogue with the participants.

Finally, after each event, I send a note to the Race Director to recommend some modifications which  might arise from our experience of the race.

What made you want to become a Steward?

It complements my day job: I'm a corporate lawyer.

I combine my legal skills and knowledge with my racing skills and knowledge. My first experience as a Steward was at the French Championships.

How long have you had this enthusiasm for cars?

Ever since I saw Briggs Cunningham's Corvette starting up in the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1957!

What qualities are required of a good steward?

You need an ability to view things in perspective, but you have to be able to do it very quickly.

When there's a decision to be made, it must be made rapidly. We are at the centre of the action, and things can happen very suddenly. You can't let yourself be caught off guard.

You must also be independent and impartial. Bear in mind that I know most of the team managers and drivers; some of them are even friends of mine!

You must be a fast decision-maker. The race standings sheet must be submitted as promptly as possible, so there is no room for hesitation or time-wasting.

Finally, I think it's essential to have some technical and legal background, because you need to know something about races and have some idea of what you are talking about in order to make a judgement; not only in a legal context, but for the sake of fairness and sportsmanship!

As a Steward, what differences do you notice when officiating in Le Mans Series compared to other championships?

There are two fundamental points:

One comes from the international nature of this Series, with drivers and teams coming from far away for races that all take place abroad. It is therefore essential to be able to speak several languages in order to avoid any misunderstanding.

The other point arises from the length of the race—six hours, or even 10 hours in some cases!

What advice would you give to someone who wanted to become a steward?

I would say: forget about having power—try to have authority!

Interview made at the Nürburgring round - August 2008