Romano Ricci has long preferred motorcycle racing to cars. "When I was younger, I refused to race cars because I was much more interested in motocross.  My dad owned a driving school in Melun and it had a simulator. Plus, I loved video games. I learned how to heel and toe shift on a simulator. By chance, Henri Pescarolo was in charge of hiring at the Filière and needed a simulator instructor to teach young karting drivers how to do heel and toe. I had become friends with Cochet, Montagny and Bourdais at the time. I really enjoyed it and asked myself why not me? I made the decision without telling my dad. I was hired, told him and that's how I started out. I spent two years there, 1999 and 2000. Later, he passed away and I took over the company. Several years after that I went into the Mitjet Series. Then I drove an LMP3 in the European Le Mans Series and became the runner-up champion. I've always wanted to do Le Mans again and the only way to do it was in the World Endurance Championship. So I went to Erwin (Creed, Ed.) who is also a perfumer and one of my best friends, and we contacted Jack Leconte with Larbre Compétition."

Romano debuted at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2000 with his father and Thierry Perrier at the wheel of Perspective Racing's Porsche 996 GT3R. The trio finished 23rd overall. "That year my dad was more stressed out than I was at only 20 years old and fresh from the Filière. He took all the stress for me and my mom was a nervous wreck. It was a rather special edition because he was ill, he hadn't told us, and he passed away eight months later."

Romano Ricci owes his special connection to the 24 Hours of Le Mans to his dad. "He had an incredible relationship with the 24 Hours of Le Mans. It's amazing how memorable he is to people. It's fantastic! He was my best friend, it wasn't a typical father/son thing at all. At Le Mans, he felt at home and you could tell. He was very generous and a lot of fun, he made everyone happy and I am very pleased my participation this year makes people think of him."

After his first and only participation in 2000, Romano is ready to hit the track. "Eighteen years later I'm doing the 24 Hours of Le Mans again. It's a place of communion with my father. I live and breathe car racing, I spend my weekends in front of the TV watching every discipline, it gives me chills, it's my huge passion. I'm happy people like you come to talk to me about my dad. I'm always thinking of him! This is like a dream." 

PHOTO (Copyright - Jean-Pierre Espitalier/ACO): LE MANS (SARTHE, FRANCE), PLACE DE LA REPUBLIQUE, 24 HOURS OF LE MANS, SCRUTINEERING, SUNDAY 10 JUNE. Romano Ricci heading into his second participation with his father on his mind.