It’s the first time 90-year-old Bernie Ecclestone has trusted anyone to tell his story for the big screen
02 July 2021 - 11:01
byAlan Baldwin
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
After running the Brabham F1 team Bernie Eccclestone became the CEO of the Formula One Group.
Picture: REUTERS
London — Manish Pandey, who scripted the award-winning motor racing film Senna, is making an eight-part documentary series about the life of former Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone and his transformation of the sport.
The series will be titled Lucky! and has been given exclusive rights by British billionaire Ecclestone, who was replaced by Formula One’s US-based owners Liberty Media in 2017 and is now 90.
It will also use extensive archive footage provided by Formula One.
“Bernie has been able to reflect, not just on his days as one of the greatest sporting impresarios of all time, but also on his life,” said Pandey, who will write and direct, in a statement.
No release date was given.
Ecclestone, whose involvement in Formula One dates from the 1950s, said it was the first time he had trusted anyone to tell his story for the big screen.
Senna, a film directed by Asif Kapadia, tells the story of the life and death of Brazil’s triple world champion Ayrton Senna, who died at the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix at Italy’s Imola circuit.
Formula One CEO Stefano Domenicali said Ecclestone had played a huge role in the sport's history.
“With half a billion global fans, and races in 23 countries, the interest and excitement around Formula One is huge and there will be eager anticipation for the series that will take the viewers on a journey into the life of one of sport’s most interesting characters,” said the former Ferrari team boss.
Formula One is the subject of a popular Netflix docu-series Drive to Survive, now filming a fourth season, that has been credited with a rise in popularity of the sport in the US.
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
FORMULA ONE
Senna scriptwriter to make Ecclestone doccie
It’s the first time 90-year-old Bernie Ecclestone has trusted anyone to tell his story for the big screen
London — Manish Pandey, who scripted the award-winning motor racing film Senna, is making an eight-part documentary series about the life of former Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone and his transformation of the sport.
The series will be titled Lucky! and has been given exclusive rights by British billionaire Ecclestone, who was replaced by Formula One’s US-based owners Liberty Media in 2017 and is now 90.
It will also use extensive archive footage provided by Formula One.
“Bernie has been able to reflect, not just on his days as one of the greatest sporting impresarios of all time, but also on his life,” said Pandey, who will write and direct, in a statement.
No release date was given.
Ecclestone, whose involvement in Formula One dates from the 1950s, said it was the first time he had trusted anyone to tell his story for the big screen.
Senna, a film directed by Asif Kapadia, tells the story of the life and death of Brazil’s triple world champion Ayrton Senna, who died at the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix at Italy’s Imola circuit.
Formula One CEO Stefano Domenicali said Ecclestone had played a huge role in the sport's history.
“With half a billion global fans, and races in 23 countries, the interest and excitement around Formula One is huge and there will be eager anticipation for the series that will take the viewers on a journey into the life of one of sport’s most interesting characters,” said the former Ferrari team boss.
Formula One is the subject of a popular Netflix docu-series Drive to Survive, now filming a fourth season, that has been credited with a rise in popularity of the sport in the US.
Reuters
Red Bull and Mercedes edge towards title duel
Verstappen takes dominant victory in Styrian Grand Prix
This day in history: Senna triumphs at Monaco, on a day of tears
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Most Read
Published by Arena Holdings and distributed with the Financial Mail on the last Thursday of every month except December and January.