Didier Pironi
Controversial French F1 Driver Drove for Tyrrell, Ligier and Ferrari
Despite an impressive Formula 1 career which brought three Grand Prix victories and four pole positions, Didier Pironi will forever be remembered for his actions in 1982, when he overtook his team-mate against team orders to win in San Marino. His team-mate, the mercurial Gilles Villeneuve, furious with Pironi, only spoke to the Frenchman once (by accident), before crashing to his death during qualifying for the next race. Pironi was portrayed as the villain of the piece and, ultimately, his life would also end tragically early.
Early Success with Elf and Tyrrell
Born on 26th March, 1952, Pironi’s first experience of driving a racing car came at the Paul Ricard circuit in southern France. His potential was realised by the French oil company Elf, who provided backing for Pironi. Elf played a pivotal role in helping many of France’s great drivers of the period, including François Cevert, René Arnoux and Alain Prost.
It was with the Elf-backed Tyrrell team that Pironi made his Formula 1 debut in 1978. The car was not the best but Pironi did what he could, managing five points finishes. At the Le Mans 24 Hours in June he co-drove a Renault with Jean-Pierre Jassaud to take overall victory in the French classic.
Staying with Tyrrell for 1979, Pironi achieved his first podium in the Belgian Grand Prix at Zolder. A year later and now driving for Ligier, he scored his maiden victory at the same circuit. Enzo Ferrari, a notoriously hard man to impress, had seen enough to offer Pironi a drive for 1981.
Ferrari, Gilles Villeneuve and Imola 1982
That year’s Ferrari had a terrifically powerful turbo engine but suffered from a somewhat agricultural chassis. Gilles Villeneuve managed to drag the recalcitrant machine to score two of the greatest victories of his career. Meanwhile, Pironi was left in the shade of the little French-Canadian’s achievements. Although Villeneuve considered Pironi to be a friend, he was rather perplexed when an invite to his team-mate’s wedding was not forthcoming.
The Ferrari 126C2 of 1982 was a much improved machine and, at Imola, Villeneuve was leading late in the race, followed by Pironi. Instructions were shown to the drivers on their pit-boards ordering them to slow down and conserve fuel. When Villeneuve was passed by Pironi he assumed his team-mate wanted to put on a show for the Italian fans. The Ferrari’s had a huge lead and time to play with. Every time Villeneuve passed Pironi he would slow the pace as per team orders, only for Pironi to re-pass him. On the final lap, at the last feasible overtaking opportunity, Pironi dived past to take victory. Villeneuve’s face on the podium betrayed his feelings towards his team-mate.
The Riccardo Paletti Tragedy and Pironi's Hockenheim Accident
Following Villeneuve’s death during qualifying for the next race Pironi was left as the clear favourite for the title, but there was yet more tragedy to come for the Frenchman. In Canada he stalled the pole-sitting Ferrari. Riccardo Paletti, starting from the back of the grid in an Osella, was doing around 120mph when he ploughed into Pironi’s car. Despite a frantic rescue effort, which Pironi helped with, the young Italian died.
During a wet practice session at Hockenheim, where the water hangs in the air around the tree-lined circuit, Pironi was travelling flat-out in atrocious visibility. Unsighted, he struck the back of Prost’s Renault, which sent the Ferrari cart -wheeling to destruction. Pironi’s leg injuries ended his Formula 1 career but, in truth, he was lucky to be alive. The title went to Keke Rosberg, although Enzo Ferrari did present Pironi with a special trophy, as the Old Man considered him to be the true 1982 World Champion.
Life After F1 and the Powerboat Crash
Pironi did test briefly for the French AGS team in 1986 but a return to Formula 1 was not forthcoming. Instead, he turned his hand to offshore powerboat racing. On August 23rd, 1987, Pironi’s boat crashed near the Isle of Wight, claiming his life and those of Bernard Giroux and Jean-Claude Guenard. Shortly after his death Pironi’s girlfriend gave birth to twins, and named them Didier and Gilles.
Didier Pironi
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