Background
Son of André Pilette and great grandson of Théodore Pilette, he followed the family pathological
Formula One driver racecar driver
Son of André Pilette and great grandson of Théodore Pilette, he followed the family pathological
He participated in 4 Formula One World Championship Grands Prix, the first on 12 May 1974 with Bernie Ecclestone"s Brabham team 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 also competed in the United States of America in Formula 5000. He also made 3 attempts at the Industry 500.
He attempted to qualify for the 1977 Indianapolis 500 but failed to make the field He drove in the CART Championship Carolina race at Watkins Glen International in 1981 but retired after 14 laps due to gearbox failure.
lieutenant would be his only Champ Carolina 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.
In 1977, Capparelli arranged for Pilette to drive with the dying Biological Response Modifiers team in Formula One, and also in the Aurora AFX Formula One Championship the following year. 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)
(key).