Teddy Pilette


Theodore "Teddy" Pilette 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.
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

Racing record

Complete 24 Hours of Le Mans results

Complete European F5000 Championship results

YearEntrantChassisEngine123456789101112131415161718Pts
1971Racing Team V.D.S.McLaren M10BChevrolet 5.0 V8MALSNEBRHMONSILCASMALMNZMALTHR
6
SIL
3
OULSNE
3
HOC
3
OUL
6
BRH
Ret
BRH
5
8th18
1972Racing Team V.D.S.McLaren M18/M22Chevrolet 5.0 V8BRH
5
MAL
Ret
SNE
2
BRH
5
NIV
2
SIL
Ret
MONOUL
5
BRH
8
5th25
1972Racing Team V.D.S.McLaren M22Chevrolet 5.0 V8OUL
3
MAL
4
BRH
Ret
SILBRH5th25
1973Racing Team V.D.S.McLaren M18/M22Chevrolet 5.0 V8BRH
7
MAL1st136
1973Racing Team V.D.S.Chevron B24Chevrolet 5.0 V8SIL
6
SNE
Ret
BRH
4
OUL
1
MAL
3
MIS
C
MAL
3
MON
7
SIL
C
BRH
1
OUL
2
JYL
2
ZAN
8
SNE
2
BRH
Ret
1st136
1974Chevron Racing Team V.D.S.Chevron B28Chevrolet 5.0 V8BRH
Ret
MAL
Ret
SIL
5
OUL
Ret
BRH
7
ZOL
Ret
THR
7
ZAN
5
MUG
3
MNZ
2
MAL
6
MON
4
THR
7
BRH
DNS
OUL
2
SNE
4
MAL
DNS
BRH
6
4th108
1975Racing Team V.D.S.Lola T400Chevrolet 5.0 V8BRH
NC
OUL
6
BRH
5
SIL
11
ZOL
NC
ZAN
2
THR
2
SNE
Ret
MAL
1
THR
1
BRH
Ret
OUL
3
SIL
5
SNE
1
MAL
1
BRH
2
1st174

Complete Formula One World Championship results

YearEntrantChassisEngine1234567891011121314151617Pts
1974Motor Racing DevelopmentsBrabham BT42Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8ARGBRARSAESPBEL
17
MONSWENEDFRAGBRGERAUTITACANUSANC0
1977Stanley BRMBRM P207BRM P202 3.0 V12ARGBRARSAUSWESPMONBELSWEFRAGBRGER
DNQ
AUTNED
DNQ
ITA
DNQ
USACANJPNNC0

Complete Formula One Non-Championship results

YearEntrantChassisEngine12345678
1971Racing Team V.D.S.McLaren M10B Chevrolet 5.0 V8ARGROCQUESPRINTRINOULVIC
14
1972Racing Team V.D.S.McLaren M18/M22 Chevrolet 5.0 V8ROC
13
BRAINT
11
VIC
Ret
1972Racing Team V.D.S.McLaren M22 Chevrolet 5.0 V8OUL
9
REP
1973Racing Team V.D.S.McLaren M18/M22 Chevrolet 5.0 V8ROC
Ret
1973Racing Team V.D.S.Chevron B24 Chevrolet 5.0 V8INT
Ret
1974Racing Team V.D.S.Chevron B28 Chevrolet 5.0 V8PREROC
Ret
INT
10
1975Racing Team V.D.S.Lola T400 Chevrolet 5.0 V8ROC
DNQ
INTSUI

Complete British Formula One Championship results

YearEntrantChassisEngine123456789101112Pts
1978Stanley BRMBRM P207BRM P202 3.0 V12OUL
Ret
BRH
5
SNE
Ret
MAL
Ret
ZANDONTHR
Ret
OUL
4
MAL
Ret
BRH
Ret
THR
Ret
SNE
Ret
13th20