Jean-Pierre Beltoise, ex-F1 driver and 1972 Monaco GP winner, dies
Jean-Pierre Beltoise, the French Formula 1 driver who took BRM's last grand prix win in Monaco in 1972, has died. He was 77
Having originally started as a successful motorcycle racer, capturing 11 French national titles, Beltoise would go on to prove he had just as much speed on four wheels.
However, his career was nearly ended after suffering serious injuries in a crash at the Reims 12 Hours sportscar race in 1964. He would never regain full movement in his badly broken left arm.
Beltoise did make it back to racing, though, and after claiming titles in Formula 3 and Formula 2 with Matra, he moved up to F1 with the French outfit.
His actual race debut came at the 1967 United States Grand Prix, as he had failed to qualify in Monaco, and his first podium finish came the following year in the Netherlands when he finished second.
He would stay racing Matras until the end of 1971, briefly working with Ken Tyrrell, before making a switch to BRM that would deliver his maiden F1 victory.
The start of that 1972 season was frustrating, but Beltoise was in a class of his own in a Monaco downpour and achieved his only - and BRM's final - triumph in F1.
He stayed with BRM for another two seasons before retiring from F1 at the end of 1974 and switching his focus to sportscars and then finally French touring cars.
He also regularly competed in ice racing and rallycross, and tested Ligier's F1 car.
Beltoise married Francois Cevert's sister Jacqueline, and their sons Anthony and Julien both followed him into motor racing.
He passed away after suffering two strokes at his holiday home near Dakar.
Previous article
F1: Niki Lauda says Hamilton and Rosberg have more respect now
Next article
Daniil Kvyat will thrive at Red Bull F1 team says Toro Rosso chief
About this article
| Series | Formula 1 |
What Mercedes must do to keep its F1 title challenge on track
Mercedes may find itself leading the drivers' and constructors' standings after Lewis Hamilton's victory in the Bahrain Grand Prix, but it is well-aware that it came against the odds, with Red Bull clearly ahead on pace. Here's what the Brackley team must do to avoid its crown slipping
Why Tsunoda can become Japan’s greatest F1 talent
While Japan's fever for motor racing is well-documented, the country has yet to produce a Formula 1 superstar – but that could be about to change, says BEN EDWARDS
Why the demise of F1's hypocritical spending habit is cause for celebration
For too long, F1's richest teams have justified being able to spend as much as they want because that's the way they've always conducted their business. STUART CODLING says that's no reason not to kick a bad habit
The double whammy that is defining Vettel’s F1 fate
It's been a tough start to Sebastian Vettel's Aston Martin F1 career, with a lack of pre-season testing mileage followed by an incident-packed Bahrain GP. But two key underlying factors mean a turnaround is not guaranteed
The diva that stole a march on F1’s wide-bodied opposition
In 2017 new F1 technical regulations were supposed to add drama - and peg Mercedes back. STUART CODLING looks at the car which, while troubled, set the stage for the wide-bodied Formula 1 era
The themes to watch in F1’s Imola return
Three weeks is a long time in Formula 1, but in the reshaped start to the 2021 season the teams head to Imola to pick things up after the frenetic Bahrain opener. Here's what to look out for and the developments to follow at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix
The 'new' F1 drivers who need to improve at Imola
After a pandemic-hit winter of seat-swapping, F1 kicked off its season with several new faces in town, other drivers adapting to new environments, and one making a much-anticipated comeback. BEN ANDERSON looks at who made the most of their opportunity and who needs to try harder…
The delay that quashed Aston Martin’s last F1 venture
Aston Martin’s only previous foray into Formula 1 in the late 1950s was a short-lived and unsuccessful affair. But it could have been so different, says NIGEL ROEBUCK
