Teddy Pilette

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Teddy Pilette bigraphy, stories - auto racer

Teddy Pilette : biography

26 July 1942 –

Theodore "Teddy" Pilette (born 26 July 1942 in Brussels) is a former racing driver from Belgium. He participated in 4 Formula One World Championship Grands Prix, the first on 12 May 1974 with Bernie Ecclestone’s Brabham team.

Son of André Pilette and great grandson of Théodore Pilette, he followed the family path. He started his career by winning many go-kart races before being sent to England to the talent-spotting Jim Russell Racing School. This experience created the opportunity for him to be part of the cast for John Frankenheimer’s movie Grand Prix, and later on Le Mans with Steve McQueen.

On the circuit, Pilette raced for Carlo Abarth in 1963 and 1965, and in 1967 he started racing for the Belgian VDS team. He won the European Formula 5000 Championship in 1973 with a Chevron B24, and again in 1975 with a Lola T400. He also competed in the USA in Formula 5000. He also made 3 attempts at the Indy 500. He attempted to qualify for the 1977 Indianapolis 500 but failed to make the field. He drove in the CART Championship Car race at Watkins Glen International in 1981 but retired after 14 laps due to gearbox failure. It would be his only Champ Car start as he failed to qualify for the 1982 Indianapolis 500 and 1983 Indianapolis 500 and was entered in the Cleveland Grand Prix later that year but the car was driven by Herm Johnson., Champ Car Stats, Retrieved 2011-03-03

In 1977, Capparelli arranged for Pilette to drive with the dying BRM team in Formula One, and also in the Aurora AFX Formula One Championship the following year.

In sports cars Pilette won the Spa 24 Hours with a Ford Capri, in the last race on the long circuit in 1978.

In 1992 he formed the Pilette Speed Tradition Formula Ford team in Europe. In 1994 he built his own Formula Three car, the Pilette F.3, and raced in the German Formula 3 championship with Paolo Coloni.

Complete Formula One World Championship results

(key)

Year Entrant Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 WDC Points
1974 Motor Racing Developments Brabham BT42 Cosworth V8 ARG BRA RSA ESP BEL17 MON SWE NED FRA GBR GER AUT ITA CAN USA NC 0
1977 Stanley BRM BRM P207 BRM V12 ARG BRA RSA USW ESP MON BEL SWE FRA GBR GERDNQ AUT NEDDNQ ITADNQ USA CAN JPN NC 0