Chateaubriand was a veteran of racing in Brazil - he raced in single seaters, touring cars and numerous other formulae, usually with good results, including taking a Brazilian Formula Ford title in 1975, and also racing in England in Formula 3. He ran a garage and trailer loading/unloading facilities business, although in 1996, he was accused of crashing aeroplanes under the influence of cocaine for insurance scam purposes. However, Jose Pedro, a trained pilot, soon returned to his business until his death from heart disease a couple of years later. Chateaubriand's full name is Jose Pedro Chateaubriand Bandeira de Mello.

Biography last updated 30 Apr 2025