Jean-Pierre Wimille
by Jean-Michel Paris & William D. Mearns
This has been one of those long, awaited books about which many ask, “Why wasn’t this written before?” The depth of detail in this account partly answers that question, because the authors have taken years to amass the story of this particularly talented French racing driver, who Fangio said was the greatest driver of his period…and he included himself in that period!
Paris and Mearns not only tracked down Wimille’s widow, but over a long period became good friends with her. Thus, she became the source for much information that would not have emerged otherwise. However, it is interesting to note that presumably out of respect for her, they must have thought it appropriate to leave out of the book the passionate tale of Wimille’s affair with French songbird/actress Juliette Greco, but we will bring that to you in an upcoming Wimille feature.
Wimille began his racing career in 1930 with a Bugatti Type 37, having just done the Monte Carlo Rally in a Lorraine, where he finished 2nd. He shared a Bugatti Type 51 on a number of occasions with Gaupillat, and his first victory came at the La Turbie Hillclimb in France in 1934 with a Type 54. He had a number of races in a private Alfa 8C-2300 in 1932–33, winning the Lorraine GP, and returned to Bugatti for 1934–38. He was the consistent star of the Alfa Romeo Grand Prix team after the war, with many victories in the supercharged Alfa 158. Tragically, he was killed in the Argentine Temporada series early in 1949, but his life was one of pre-war glamour and post-war renaissance; he was a star of a period which has been largely unreported in racing history. This is a significant book.
In French and English, it is available from DRIVERS, BP99, 31013 Toulouse, Cedex 6, France, e-mail: [email protected]
