Teddy Pilette Explained

Teddy Pilette
Nationality: Belgian
Birth Date:26 July 1942
Birth Place:Brussels, Belgium
Years:,
Team(S):Brabham, BRM
Races:4 (1 start)
Championships:0
Wins:0
Podiums:0
Points:0
Poles:0
Fastest Laps:0
First Race:1974 Belgian Grand Prix
Last Race:1977 Italian Grand Prix

Theodore "Teddy" Pilette (in French pronounced as /te.ɔ.dɔʁ pi.lɛt/; born 26 July 1942)[1] 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 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 US 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.[2]

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.In September 2013, he was elected vice president of the Grand Prix Drivers Club (formerly known as Club International des Anciens Pilotes de Grand-Prix F1)

Racing record

Complete 24 Hours of Le Mans results

YearTeamCo-driversCarClassLaps
1968 Racing Team V.D.S. Rob SlotemakerAlfa Romeo T33/2P
2.0
104DNFDNF
1969 Racing Team V.D.S. Rob SlotemakerAlfa Romeo T33BP
3.0
36DNFDNF
1970 Racing Team V.D.S. Gustave GosselinLola T70 Mk. IIIB-ChevroletS
5.0
109DNFDNF
1971 Racing Team V.D.S. Gustave GosselinLola T70 Mk. IIIB-ChevroletS
5.0
14DNFDNF
1972 Ecurie Francorchamps Derek Bell
Richard Bond
Ferrari 365 GTB/4GT
5.0
3018th4th
1975 Ecurie Francorchamps Jean-Claude Andruet
Hughes de Fierlandt
Ferrari 365 GTB/4GTS29312th6th
1978 Ecurie Francorchamps Jean Blaton
Raymond Touroul
Ferrari 512BBIMSA
+2.5
39DNFDNF
1987 Dahm Cars Racing Team Peter Fritsch
Jean-Paul Libert
Argo JM19-PorscheC212DNFDNF

Complete European F5000 Championship results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap.)

YearEntrantChassisEngine123456789101112131415161718Pts
1971Racing Team V.D.S.McLaren M10BChevrolet 5.0 V8MALSNEBRHMONSILCASMALMNZMALTHR
SIL
OULSNE
HOC
OUL
BRH
BRH
8th18
1972Racing Team V.D.S.McLaren M18/M22Chevrolet 5.0 V8BRH
MAL
SNE
BRH
NIV
SIL
MONOUL
BRH
5th25
McLaren M22OUL
MAL
BRH
SILBRH
1973Racing Team V.D.S.McLaren M18/M22Chevrolet 5.0 V8BRH
MAL1st136
Chevron B24SIL
SNE
BRH
OUL
MAL
MIS
MAL
MON
SIL
BRH
OUL
JYL
ZAN
SNE
BRH
1974Chevron Racing Team V.D.S.Chevron B28Chevrolet 5.0 V8BRH
MAL
SIL
OUL
BRH
ZOL
THR
ZAN
MUG
MNZ
MAL
MON
THR
BRH
OUL
SNE
MAL
BRH
4th108
1975Racing Team V.D.S.Lola T400Chevrolet 5.0 V8BRH
OUL
BRH
SIL
ZOL
ZAN
THR
SNE
MAL
THR
BRH
OUL
SIL
SNE
MAL
BRH
1st174

Complete Formula One World Championship results

(key)

YearEntrantChassisEngine1234567891011121314151617Pts
1974Motor Racing DevelopmentsBrabham BT42Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8ARGBRARSAESPBEL
MONSWENEDFRAGBRGERAUTITACANUSANC0
1977Stanley BRMBRM P207BRM P202 3.0 V12ARGBRARSAUSWESPMONBELSWEFRAGBRGER
AUTNED
ITA
USACANJPNNC0

Complete Formula One non-championship results

(key)

YearEntrantChassisEngine12345678
1971Racing Team V.D.S.McLaren M10B (F5000)Chevrolet 5.0 V8ARGROCQUESPRINTRINOULVIC
1972Racing Team V.D.S.McLaren M18/M22 (F5000)Chevrolet 5.0 V8ROC
BRAINT
VIC
McLaren M22 (F5000)OUL
REP
1973Racing Team V.D.S.McLaren M18/M22 (F5000)Chevrolet 5.0 V8ROC
Chevron B24 (F5000)INT
1974Racing Team V.D.S.Chevron B28 (F5000)Chevrolet 5.0 V8PREROC
INT
1975Racing Team V.D.S.Lola T400 (F5000)Chevrolet 5.0 V8ROC
INTSUI

Complete British Formula One Championship results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap.)

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: The World Championship drivers - Where are they now? . 29 July 2007 . Jenkins . Richard . OldRacingCars.com.
  2. http://www.champcarstats.com/drivers/PiletteTeddy.htm Teddy Pilette