2008 Bridgestone eReporter Named

The GP2 end of season ceremony in Monza, Italy was the location Bridgestone decided upon to reveal the 2008 winner of its annual e-reporter competition. On the evening of Sunday September 14, it was revealed this year’s honour goes to French student Guillaume Navarro, whose journalistic talents put him ahead of eight other finalists and a record number of entries from across Europe.

Guillaume’s victory was announced on stage by Franco Annunziato, managing director, Bridgestone Technical Centre Europe – in front of all GP2 teams, drivers, GP2 Series personnel, official suppliers and partners attending the evening celebrations. This year marked the fifth anniversary of the Bridgestone e-reporter competition, and the company celebrated by inviting all previous Bridgestone e-reporter finalists to Monza. A total of 31 graduates joined the celebratory reunion at the Italian Grand Prix – the GP2 series finale – and watched as Guillaume received his prize at the GP2 awards.

“It is a great honour to crown yet another talented Bridgestone e-reporter,” commented Annunziato. “As we celebrate five years of the competition this year, we look forward to the future by continuing our commitment to education and supporting young talents.”

Guillaume, says Bridgestone, was chosen for his excellent ability to produce written race reports, conduct interviews with drivers, team managers and GP2 Series personnel, and for his professional journalistic approach in the paddock and around the GP2 teams. He will continue his work with Bridgestone by continuing to cover Bridgestone-backed events in 2008. Guillaume was also awarded a laptop computer and work experience at a European motorsport magazine.

“In the same way GP2 is Formula One’s strongest feeder series, the Bridgestone e-reporter competition represents a unique chance for young aspiring motorsport journalists to make their way to the paddock,” Navarro related following his win. “Being the winner of the 2008 Bridgestone e-reporter contest gives me a great sense of achievement. Most of all it will give me opportunities to work with passion in the motorsport journalism environment. I would like to thank Bridgestone for this amazing programme that has been a success for five years. Thanks to the competition, new generations of writers will hopefully make successful careers in years to come.”

Sky Sports (UK) Broadcaster Tony Jardine, judge on the 2008 Bridgestone e-reporter panel of judges, said, “We were presented with a difficult task judging the Bridgestone e-reporter finalists this year. The calibre of the nine finalists was extremely high. The winner, Guillaume Navarro, is exactly what we are looking for in a strong candidate. His creative writing, his never-ending enthusiasm to get the job done, his curiosity and his ability to seize opportunities have made him the Bridgestone e-reporter 2008.”

Since its launch in 2003, the Bridgestone e-reporter programme has continued to grow in popularity, with more students entering the competition year-on-year from an increasing number of European countries. The competition has launched a number of journalistic careers, with numerous Bridgestone e-reporters securing media jobs as a direct result of their involvement in the initiative. The e-reporter competition will commence again on 15 December 2008. For more information and entry details visit www.bridgestone.eu/e-reporter.