The World Championship drivers — Where are they now?
by Richard Jenkins
| See also |
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Formula 3000 drivers Indy 500 drivers North American Racers World Championship team bosses |
I have endeavoured to try and provide as up-to-date and accurate information as possible for everyone featured on this site, and I am always indebted to the many contributors who help with the information on this site and sadly, space doesn't allow for me to thank everyone here. However, I would like to dedicate the ongoing work, progress and achievements on this site to those contributors who are sadly no longer with us but helped aide this project so much: Len Calinoff, Phil Harms, Gene Heeter, Earl Ma, Don Radbruch and Roscoe H Rann.
Updates and corrections are always welcomed — please either join the debate here or feel free to contact me on with any information you might have.
This part of the site is also dedicated to the memory of Tony Marsh, as it was his post-Grand Prix life that served as the initial inspiration for "Where Are They Now" back in 1998 For more about what this part of the site is trying to achieve, please read my full introduction.
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z |
| Name | Born | Died | Nat | Grands Prix | Biography |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carlos Pace |
06 Oct 1944 Sao Paulo |
18 Mar 1977 Mairipora, nr. Sao Paulo |
BR |
72 (1972-1977) |
Killed in an aeroplane crash. The Brazillian GP circuit is named in his memory. A debonair man, he was hugely popular in Sao Paulo, even more so than fellow Paulista and World Champion Emerson Fittipaldi. One of Bernie Ecclestone's all-time favourites, he surely would've won more races but for his untimely death. (Last updated 24 Jan 2010) |
| Jim Packard |
23 Dec 1931 Hendersonville, North Carolina |
01 Oct 1960 Fairfield, Illinois |
USA |
0 (1959-1960) |
Killed in a midget race, just after his first Champ Car win. Highly rated, varied driver who had many wins in sprint cars. Served in WW2. His widow, Betty, later worked in F1 and at Indianapolis. (Last updated 24 Jan 2010) |
| Nello Pagani |
11 Oct 1911 Milan |
19 Oct 2003 Miazzina |
I |
1 (1950) |
A legend in the bike world, he made appearances at historic events until very recently, when he started to suffer ill-health. Died recently, just after his 92nd birthday. (Last updated 24 Jan 2010) |
| Riccardo Paletti |
15 Jun 1958 Milan |
13 Jun 1982 Montreal, Canada |
I |
2 (1982) |
Killed in a nasty accident in the 1982 Canadian GP. Credible F2 racer who struggled to get results in F1, a track at Varano de Melegrani, nr. Parma is named in his honour. (Last updated 24 Jan 2010) |
| Torsten Palm |
23 Jul 1947 Kristinehamn |
|
S |
1 (1975) |
Last raced in 1995, now runs a garage in Sweden. (Last updated 24 Jan 2010) |
| Jonathan Palmer |
07 Nov 1956 Lewisham, London |
|
GB |
83 (1983-1989) |
Formed his own racing series, after working for the BBC - the Formula Palmer Audi series. It's first champion was Justin Wilson and Palmer became his manager. In 2004, Palmer and his two business partners became the new owners of 4 UK circuits - Caldwell Park, Oulton Park, Brand's Hatch and Snetterton and they now have a pivotal role to play in the future of UK motorsport. Palmer is also now running the new F2 series. Son Jolyon is now racing. (Last updated 24 Jan 2010) |
| Olivier Panis |
02 Sep 1966 Oullins, Lyon |
|
F |
157 (1994-2004) |
Now retired from F1 driving, but he continued to work with Toyota as a test and development driver until 2006. Took a sabbatical in 2007 for family reasons, but appeared in the odd event for fun, including ice racing. Now back permanently in the LMS and is also in French GT. Also worked as an advisor to France's A1 GP team. (Last updated 24 Jan 2010) |
| Giorgio Pantano |
04 Feb 1979 Conselve, Padua |
|
I |
14 (2004) |
Very successful in F3000, less so with Jordan in F1. In GP2 in 2005, before moving to the IRL. However, since 2006, he was in the GP2 series, finally taking the title in 2008. A F1 drive didn't materialise straight after and so Pantano went into the Renault Megane and Formula Superfund and is now in Auto GP. (Last updated 24 Jan 2010) |
| Massimiliano Papis |
03 Oct 1969 Como |
|
I |
7 (1995) |
Was in ASCAR briefly, now back in the US, firstly in CART, then in ALMS and now in Grand-Am and NASCAR Nationwide series. Also appears at the Indy 500. (Last updated 24 Jan 2010) |
| Michael Parkes |
24 Sep 1931 Richmond, Surrey |
28 Aug 1977 Riva Presso Chieri, nr. Turin, Italy |
GB |
6 (1959-1967) |
Became involved with management with Ferrari, whilst continuing to race from time to time, before his sad death in a road accident near Turin where his car collided with a lorry. |
| Reg Parnell |
02 Jul 1911 Derby |
07 Jan 1964 Derby |
GB |
6 (1950-1954) |
Team owner up until his death from peritonitis after a routine appendix operation. |
| Tim Parnell |
25 Jun 1932 Derby |
|
GB |
2 (1959-1963) |
Took over his father Reg's teams on his death in 1964. Although a director of both the BRDC and Derby County FC, he is mostly now retired, still living in Derbyshire. Often attends reunions. (Last updated 24 Jan 2010) |
| Johnnie Parsons |
04 Jul 1918 Los Angeles, California |
08 Sep 1984 Van Nuys, California |
USA |
9 (1950-1958) |
Winner of the rain-hit 1950 race, Parsons later became Chief Steward for the USAC midget division on the West Coast in the early 1970's. |
| Riccardo Patrese |
17 Apr 1954 Padua |
|
I |
256 (1977-1993) |
Now more or less retired, works in PR and kept fit playing tennis and by taking part in show jumping and skiing! This came in handy when it meant a surprise return to racing, in the Grand Prix Masters series and a F1 test with Honda in 2008. Also works in TV and visits and drives in historic events. (Last updated 24 Jan 2010) |
| Al Pease |
15 Oct 1921 Darlington, Yorkshire (Now Durham), England |
|
CDN |
2 (1967-1969) |
Still very much alive and well, he is retired and living in Tennessee. Mainly does car restoring in his spare time. Still follows the sport closely on television. (Last updated 24 Jan 2010) |
| Roger Penske |
20 Feb 1937 Shaker Heights, Ohio |
|
USA |
2 (1961-1962) |
Still runs his legendary Penske outfit but now in the IRL and ALMS. He also has interests in NASCAR. (Last updated 24 Jan 2010) |
| Cesare Perdisa |
21 Oct 1932 Bologna |
10 May 1998 Bologna |
I |
7 (1955-1957) |
Became a businessman after his early retirement form racing. |
| Luis Perez Sala |
15 May 1959 Barcelona |
|
E |
26 (1988-1989) |
Still involved in Spanish racing, including touring cars, in which he has been racing in for over a decade now and GT's (in which he races more often now). Lives in Barcelona. (Last updated 24 Jan 2010) |
| Larry Perkins |
18 Mar 1950 Murrayville, Victoria |
|
AUS |
11 (1974-1977) |
Retired as a driver in 2003, but still owns, runs and is senior engineer of Perkins Engineering, in the Australian Touring Car series. |
| Xavier Perrot |
01 Feb 1932 Zurich |
08 Dec 2008 Zurich |
CH |
1 (1969) |
Died after a long period of ill-health. Ran a garage for a while and was a huge help to Peter Sauber when he set up his team. Retired from racing after marrying, but still followed the sport until his death. (Last updated 24 Jan 2010) |
| Henri Pescarolo |
25 Sep 1942 Montfermeil, nr. Paris |
|
F |
57 (1968-1976) |
Involved with ELF - now a young driver tutor and mentor. Still racing, appeared at Dakar in 2005. Also founded his own successful, title-winning endurance team recently, and continues running the team in sportscars in 2010. (Last updated 24 Jan 2010) |
| Alessandro Pesenti-Rossi |
31 Aug 1942 Bergamo |
|
I |
3 (1976) |
Still alive, living near Gerosa. Private entrant, who was capable in F2 but F1 was a step too far. Retired from racing in 1978. |
| Jiggs Peters |
28 Sep 1920 Metuchen, New Jersey |
25 Dec 1993 Pittstown, New Jersey |
USA |
0 (1955) |
Real name Fred, he has been unusually active since death, as his ashes have been taken by a friend to parties and for a ride in a midget car! (Last updated 24 Jan 2010) |
| Josef Peters |
16 Sep 1914 Dusseldorf |
24 Apr 2001 Dusseldorf |
D |
1 (1952) |
Solid but unspectacular sports car stalwart of the 1950's. |
| Ronnie Peterson |
14 Feb 1944 Orebro |
11 Sep 1978 Milan, Italy |
S |
123 (1970-1978) |
Died of injuries sustained in a start-line crash in the Italian GP at Monza. Hugely pouplar, this fast and spectacular driver was brilliant in F2, before leaving us with many top ballsy drives in F1 to remember him by. |
| Vitaly Petrov |
08 Sep 1984 Vyborg, nr. St Petersburg |
|
RUS |
9 (2010- ) |
New Renault driver, a GP2 graduate. |
| Alfredo Pian |
21 Oct 1912 Las Rosas, Santa Fe |
25 Jul 1990 Las Rosas, Santa Fe |
RA |
0 (1950) |
Decent and veteran endurance and road racer in his native land, his one GP attempt was, rather unusually at Monaco, rather than locally. |
| Francois Picard |
26 Apr 1921 Villefranche-sur-Saone |
29 Apr 1996 Nice |
F |
1 (1958) |
Mainly in privately entered Ferrari sportscars, with many class wins. His career was ended by a crash at the Moroccan GP and he then retired to live in Monaco. |
| Ernie Pieterse |
04 Jul 1938 Parow, Bellville |
|
ZA |
2 (1962-1965) |
Useful national racer. Largely keeps a low profile, but is a visitor to historic events in his home country. (Last updated 24 Jan 2010) |
| Paul Pietsch |
20 Jun 1911 Freiburg im Breisgau |
|
D |
3 (1950-1952) |
Pre-war starlet, now over 95, the oldest pre-war and GP driver still alive. Still keeps busy and looks well for a man his age. Lives near Stuttgart. (Last updated 24 Jan 2010) |
| Marvin Pifer |
13 Mar 1928 Adrian, Michigan |
04 May 1974 Adrian, Michigan |
USA |
0 (1952) |
Marvin's grandson, of the same name, now also competes in the same machinery - sprint cars! Marvin himself ran a jeep and Triumph dealership in Adrian, but was diagnosed with MS in 1963. By 1968, he was in a wheelchair, 4 years later he sold his business and 2 years after that, the illness had killed him. (Last updated 24 Jan 2010) |
| Andre Pilette |
06 Oct 1918 Paris, France |
27 Dec 1993 Etterbeek |
B |
9 (1951-1964) |
Ran a racing school at Zolder until the late 1980's. |
| Teddy Pilette |
26 Jul 1942 Brussels |
|
B |
1 (1974-1977) |
Later a constructor in the sport. He appears nowadays at many historic meetings and also has a role in his late father's racing school. He also has many links on the web to historic motorsport. (Last updated 6 Apr 2010) |
| Luigi Piotti |
27 Oct 1913 Milan |
19 Apr 1971 Godiasco |
I |
6 (1955-1958) |
Businessman and amateur driver who was mainly in sportscars. Won the Hyeres 12 hours in 1954 with Trintignant. |
| David Piper |
02 Dec 1930 Edgware, Middlesex |
|
GB |
2 (1959-1960) |
Despite having part of his leg amputated after a crash in 1970, David still races and appears at historic events. Also runs a Ferrari garage near his home in Surrey. He is also involved in historic racing administration. (Last updated 24 Jan 2010) |
| Nelsinho Piquet |
25 Jul 1985 Heidelberg, Germany |
|
BR |
28 (2008-2009) |
Son of Nelson. Promoted to the Renault F1 drive in 2008 and stayed there in 2009, but when he was dropped, he revealed that he crashed deliberately in the Singapore GP of 2008. He agreed a deal with the FIA that he wouldn't be punished for cheating, but has found that much of F1 snubbed him anyway and is now in the US, racing in NASCAR, ARCA and trucks. (Last updated 24 Jan 2010) |
| Nelson Piquet |
17 Aug 1952 Rio de Janeiro |
|
BR |
204 (1978-1991) |
His racing career came to a virtual halt in 1992 after a big crash at Indianapolis and he still suffers slightly from the crash injuries. Now a grandfather, he is a successful businessman with a satellite tracking company in Brazil. He also keenly follows and guides his son, Nelson Angelo. Piquet Sr ran the GP2 team which featured his son, but sold it after Nelsinho's progression, but still acts as a consultant. Has now retired, his las race being a win at the Mille Mihila with his son, Bouchut and Castroneves in 2006. Nelson's youngest son Pedro has also started racing! (Last updated 24 Jan 2010) |
| Renato Pirocchi |
26 Mar 1933 Notaresco, Teramo |
29 Jul 2002 Chieti |
I |
1 (1961) |
After retirement, Renato became President of the Automobile Club in Pescara and helped re-launch the Svolte di Popoli annual festival. He died in 2002, after suffering kidney problems. (Last updated 24 Jan 2010) |
| Didier Pironi |
26 Mar 1952 Villecresnes, nr. Paris |
23 Aug 1987 off the Isle of Wight, England |
F |
70 (1978-1982) |
Forced to retire from F1 due to leg injuries, Pironi moved to powerboating but perished in a crash in 1987. |
| Emanuele Pirro |
12 Jan 1962 Rome |
|
I |
37 (1989-1991) |
One of sportscars and touring cars modern legends. He won Sebring in 2000 and took a hat-trick of Le Mans wins between 2000-2002. This is on top of touring car titles, a career he eked after leaving F1 and he also won the ALMS title in 2005. He won his 5th Le Mans in 2007. Raced in ALMS in 2008 but dropped in 2009, he is in Italian endurance events. Continues in this, plus some Le Mans series events in 2010. He also works in TV and in a more ambassadorial role in future and still keeps visiting historic events, as well as being a driver coach and mentor to the Kolles Audi team. (Last updated 6 Apr 2010) |
| Antonio Pizzonia |
11 Sep 1980 Manaus |
|
BR |
20 (2003-2005) |
After missing out on a permament drive in F1, he went to Champ Cars, then returned to Europe and GP2. Dropped midway through the season, he is now in his homeland, and racing touring cars, though he also appeared in the last CCWS race and Formula Superleague in 2008 and 2009. (Last updated 24 Jan 2010) |
| Jacques Pollet |
02 Jul 1922 Roubaix |
16 Aug 1997 Paris |
F |
5 (1954-1955) |
Was Gordini's test driver who was promoted to race driver in sports cars and GP's after some strong performances. He also had a Le Mans class win to his credit during his career. (Last updated 24 Jan 2010) |
| Ben Pon |
09 Dec 1936 Leiden |
|
NL |
1 (1962) |
Now owns and runs a hugely successful winery and lodge in California, USA. (Last updated 24 Jan 2010) |
| Dennis Poore |
19 Aug 1916 Paddington, London |
12 Feb 1987 Kensington, London |
GB |
2 (1952) |
A pivotal name behind the motoring magazine, Autosport, funding it due to his wealth. This came from his many business ventures. |
| Sam Posey |
26 May 1944 New York City, New York |
|
USA |
2 (1971-1972) |
Worked for Speedvision (commentated for over 10 years), and still on TV and also writes, paints and is a railroad expert, but has sadly been in ill-health recently. |
| Charles Pozzi |
27 Aug 1909 Paris |
28 Feb 2001 Levallois-Perret |
F |
1 (1950) |
Ran a huge Ferrari dealership, which ran advertising on the F1 cars in the late 70's. He was still involved in French motor sport, in one way or another until his recent death. |
| Ralph Pratt |
17 Mar 1910 Portage, Ohio |
15 Dec 1981 Fayetteville, Pennsylvania |
USA |
0 (1950) |
Midget legend who was Roger Penske's boyhood hero. Perhaps the greatest of them all, he took a colossal 142 wins in 4 years and even won, in the same day, three different races at different tracks in Ohio! (Last updated 24 Jan 2010) |
| Jackie Pretorius |
22 Nov 1934 Potchefstroom, Transvaal |
30 Mar 2009 Johannesburg |
ZA |
3 (1965-1973) |
A very popular man, he was a regular at historics and worked for many years for Wynn Oil. Sadly, robbers broke into his house twice - the first time the attack killed his wife and injured Jackie. Despite this, he still attended historic events and stayed upbeat, but when the 2nd attack happened, Jackie was badly injured, and after a spell in a coma, he died, leaving the whole South African motor racing world aghast and in mourning over his murder. (Last updated 24 Jan 2010) |
| Ernesto Prinoth |
15 Apr 1923 Ortisei, Bolzano |
26 Nov 1981 Innsbruck, Austria |
I |
0 (1962) |
Became a successful manufacturer of snow-grooming vehicles. Died of a heart-attack whilst at work at the Innsbruck ski resort in Austria. (Last updated 24 Jan 2010) |
| David Prophet |
09 Oct 1937 Hong Kong |
29 Mar 1981 Silverstone, Northamptonshire |
GB |
2 (1963-1965) |
Killed in a helicopter crash, just after attending a race meeting in Silverstone. A Midlands based motor trader, he was decent in sportscars and club racing. |
| Alain Prost |
24 Feb 1955 Lorette, Saint-Chamond, nr. St. Etienne |
|
F |
199 (1980-1993) |
Took on the running of the Ligier team, renaming it Prost and started very well. But Panis' injury in 1997 led to a downfall in fortunes and Prost announced bankruptcy in 2002. After a well-deserved rest, he's back and indeed racing and winning, in the annual ice racing tournaments (Champion in 2007 and 2008, no less) and in French GT racing. Also works as a motorsport advisor and helps his son who is now racing. (Last updated 24 Jan 2010) |
| Tom Pryce |
11 Jun 1949 Ruthin, Denbighshire, North Wales |
05 Mar 1977 Kyalami Circuit, South Africa |
GB |
42 (1974-1977) |
Killed in a horrific accident in the South African GP. Wales' greatest ever driver, this shy modest driver was extremely fast. Welsh speaking, he also worked at a garage and could've been a World Champion but for his death. |
| David Purley |
26 Jan 1945 Bognor Regis, Sussex |
02 Jul 1985 off the coast, nr. Bognor Regis, Sussex |
GB |
7 (1973-1977) |
Heir to the Lec refrigeration company, this amazing man survived a whole lot of scrapes before his death in a biplane whilst performing aerobatics off the Sussex coast. (Last updated 24 Jan 2010) |
| Clive Puzey |
11 Jul 1941 Bulawayo |
|
RSR |
0 (1961) |
A major player in the main opposition movement in Zimbabwe to Robert Mugabe, Puzey ran a garage in Harare which was attacked in the first Zimbabwean uprising in 2000. Clive was shaken but unhurt, but has since emigrated to Australia. (Last updated 7 Jul 2010) |
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z |