Ex F1 driver and 1972 Monaco GP winner Jean-Pierre Beltoise has died

Ex F1 driver and 1972 Monaco GP winner Jean-Pierre Beltoise has died

It has been announced this afternoon that ex Formula One driver 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 years old.

Having originally started as a successful motorcycle racer by capturing 11 French national titles to his name, 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. He did however make it back to racing and after claiming titles in Formula 3 and Formula 2 with Matra, he moved up to F1 with the French outfit.

Beltoise's 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 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. But the start of that 1972 season was frustrating, but Beltoise was in a class 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.

It was sad to hear the news of Beltoise passing this afternoon but let us remember Beltoise from his solid contribution to motorsport and his successes that he achieved in his career especially the win in Monaco in 1972 for BRM. Everyone at Driving for Pleasure's thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends at this sad and difficult time and we will never forget him as a driver that achieved success, no matter what obstacles was thrown in his way and will be missed fondly by the sport and fans alike.