Jean-Pierre Maurice Georges Beltoise (April 26, 1937 – January 5, 2015) was a French racer who competed in Grand Prix motorcycle racing from 1962 to 1964, and Formula 1 from 1966 to 1974. He has notably won the 1972 Monaco Grand Prix, his only Formula 1 win.
Grand Prix Motorcycle Racing
Prior to his Formula 1 career, Beltoise competed in Grand Prix motorcycle racing from 1962 until 1964 in the 50cc, 125cc, and 250cc classes.
Matra
Beltoise’s first five Formula 1 entries were made in Formula 2 machinery, which included his debut at the 1966 German Grand Prix, three rounds in 1967, and the 1968 season opener. He drive a Formula 1 car for the remainder of the season, scoring his first podium with a second place finish at the 1968 Dutch Grand Prix. He stayed with Matra until the end of the 1971 season, and finished his time with the French team with six podium finishes.
BRM
Beltoise switched to the BRM team for 1972 and won the Monaco Grand Prix, which would be the last world championship win for both him and the team as well as the first win for a Marlboro-sponsored Formula 1 car. He retired from Formula 1 after the 1974 season.
Raidillon
In 2019, Raidillon unveiled a Jean-Pierre Beltoise edition chronograph (ref. SPEED 42-C10-191) at Rétromobile 2019, a vintage car event in Paris. The blue and red colors were a reference to the two teams he raced for. As is customary for Raidillon timepieces, the chronograph had a limited run of 55 pieces.
Related Pages
References
https://www.raidillon-watches.com/heritage
https://www.raidillon-watches.com/shop/speed-42-c10-191-715
https://masterhorologer.com/raidillon-watches/
https://www.luxe-infinity.com/en/horlogerie-joaillerie/raidillon-avec-la-montre-jean-pierre-beltoise/
https://thegoodlife.fr/raidillon-une-montre-en-hommage-a-jean-pierre-beltoise/
https://www.fashion-spider.com/la-montre-laccessoire-indispensable-de-lhomme.fashion