A former bicycle racer, he initially worked as a test driver for FIAT, which led to racing. Served in Africa in WW2, then after forming a friendship with Raymond Sommer, went on to race successfully for some years. Retired after a crash in 1951, and later ran a dealership in Paris, using his old contacts to sell Delages and Maserati's (his old racing teams). He also ran a car and truck rental business.