Teddy Pilette

Theodore "Teddy" Pilette (; born 26 July 1942) is a former racing driver from Belgium. He participated in four 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.

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, Pilette formed the Pilette Speed Tradition Formula Ford team in Europe. In 1994 he built his own Formula Three car, the Pilette PWT 94C, and raced in the German Formula 3 championship with Paolo Coloni, without success. In September 2013, Pilette 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 Year Team Co-drivers Car Class Laps 1968 Racing Team V.D.S. Rob Slotemaker Alfa Romeo T33/2 P2.0 104 DNF DNF 1969 Racing Team V.D.S. Rob Slotemaker Alfa Romeo T33B P3.0 36 DNF DNF 1970 Racing Team V.D.S. Gustave Gosselin Lola T70 Mk. IIIB-Chevrolet S5.0 109 DNF DNF 1971 Racing Team V.D.S. Gustave Gosselin Lola T70 Mk. IIIB-Chevrolet S5.0 14 DNF DNF 1972 Ecurie Francorchamps Derek Bell Richard Bond Ferrari 365 GTB/4 GT5.0 301 8th 4th 1975 Ecurie Francorchamps Jean-Claude Andruet Hughes de Fierlandt Ferrari 365 GTB/4 GTS 293 12th 6th 1978 Ecurie Francorchamps Jean Blaton Raymond Touroul Ferrari 512BB IMSA+2.5 39 DNF DNF 1987 Dahm Cars Racing Team Peter Fritsch Jean-Paul Libert Argo JM19-Porsche C2 12 DNF DNF

Complete European F5000 Championship/British Formula One Championship results (key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap.) Year Entrant Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Pts 1971 Racing Team V.D.S. McLaren M10B Chevrolet 5.0 V8 MAL SNE BRH MON SIL CAS MAL MNZ MAL THR SIL OUL SNE HOC OUL BRH BRH 8th 18 1972 Racing Team V.D.S. McLaren M18/M22 Chevrolet 5.0 V8 BRH MAL SNE BRH NIV SIL MON OUL BRH 5th 25 McLaren M22 OUL MAL BRH SIL BRH 1973 Racing Team V.D.S. McLaren M18/M22 Chevrolet 5.0 V8 BRH MAL 1st 136 Chevron B24 SIL SNE BRH OUL MAL MIS MAL MON SIL BRH OUL JYL ZAN SNE BRH 1974 Chevron Racing Team V.D.S. Chevron B28 Chevrolet 5.0 V8 BRH MAL SIL OUL BRH ZOL THR ZAN MUG MNZ MAL MON THR BRH OUL SNE MAL BRH 4th 108 1975 Racing Team V.D.S. Lola T400 Chevrolet 5.0 V8 BRH OUL BRH SIL ZOL ZAN THR SNE MAL THR BRH OUL SIL SNE MAL BRH 1st 174 1978 Stanley BRM BRM P207 BRM P202 3.0 V12 OUL BRH SNE MAL ZAN DON THR OUL MAL BRH THR SNE 13th 20

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 Pts 1974 Hitachi Team Brabham Brabham BT42 Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 ARG BRA RSA ESP BEL MON SWE NED FRA GBR GER AUT ITA CAN USA NC 0 1977 Stanley BRM BRM P207 BRM P202 3.0 V12 ARG BRA RSA USW ESP MON BEL SWE FRA GBR GER AUT NED ITA USA CAN JPN NC 0

Complete Formula One non-championship results (key) Year Entrant Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 1971 Racing Team V.D.S. McLaren M10B (F5000) Chevrolet 5.0 V8 ARG ROC QUE SPR INT RIN OUL VIC 1972 Racing Team V.D.S. McLaren M18/M22 (F5000) Chevrolet 5.0 V8 ROC BRA INT VIC McLaren M22 (F5000) OUL REP 1973 Racing Team V.D.S. McLaren M18/M22 (F5000) Chevrolet 5.0 V8 ROC Chevron B24 (F5000) INT 1974 Racing Team V.D.S. Chevron B28 (F5000) Chevrolet 5.0 V8 PRE ROC INT 1975 Racing Team V.D.S. Lola T400 (F5000) Chevrolet 5.0 V8 ROC INT SUI