• Competitors from around the world recognised at annual event
• End-of-year-festivities return to Paris for first time since 2017
The stars of international GT racing gathered in Paris on Tuesday (17 December) for the annual SRO Motorsports Group Awards.
The traditional end-of-year celebration was staged across two venues: first, in the afternoon, at the Pavillon Vendôme, and then later amid the marble columns of the historic Pavillon Cambon Capucines, which was completed in 1914 as the headquarters of Crédit Foncier de France and has since been reborn as an events space.
On Tuesday night it welcomed some of the biggest names in world motorsport. Among the prize-winners Mercedes-AMG retained the global Fanatec GT World Challenge powered by AWS title for a sixth year in succession, Porsche collected the Intercontinental GT Challenge manufacturers' crown, and the inaugural GT4 Manufacturer Ranking was won by BMW.
The champions of Fanatec GT Europe, Fanatec GT Asia and IGTC were presented with their trophies, while representatives from Fanatec GT America and Fanatec GT Australia were in Paris to join the festivities after staging their own awards ceremonies on home soil.
Following a truly unforgettable victory at the CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa, two-thirds of Comtoyou Racing’s winning crew - Marco Sørensen and Mattia Drudi - were on hand to collect their commemorative jackets and lifetime passes covering all global SRO events.
The FIA Motorsport Games was another highlight of 2024, the multidisciplinary event completing a successful and record breaking third edition in Valencia. Having emerged with the biggest medal haul, host nation Spain was honoured during the Parisian evening. There was recognition for the Fanatec GT2 European Series powered by Pirelli and GT4 European Series powered by RAFA Racing Club champions, as well as those from the FFSA French GT Championship, FFSA TC France, and the British GT Championship.
In the latter series, Sandy Mitchell received the Allan Simonsen Award, which is presented to a driver who embodies the same speed and spirit as the much-missed Danish racer, while the Philippe Charriol Award – which celebrates an outstanding amateur driver – was won by two-time British GT champion and Beechdean AMR owner Andrew Howard. There were trophies for this year’s SRO Esports stars, while Team WRT and L’Espace Bienvenue were recognised for their sustainability efforts in GT3 and GT4 respectively.
Tuesday’s gala event came a little over two weeks after the 2024 season closed in spectacular style with Fanatec GT Europe and GT4 Europe competing at Jeddah Corniche Circuit in Saudi Arabia. Indeed, it represents the very last word on an extraordinary year, one that will be principally remembered for the celebrations that marked the centenary CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa.
And, as ever, thoughts will quickly turn to what comes next. The 2025 campaign launches in suitable style with the Meguiar’s Bathurst 12 Hour at Mount Panorama, which reprises its traditional race date on Sunday 2 February. Australia’s International Enduro hosts the opening rounds of both Intercontinental GT Challenge and GT World Challenge global, and kicks off another packed SRO campaign featuring approximately 200 races on four continents.
