Didier Pironi
Pironi after winning the 1982 Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort
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|
| Born |
26 March 1952 Villecresnes, Val-de-Marne, France |
|---|---|
| Died | 23 August 1987 (aged 35) off the Isle of Wight, England, UK |
| Formula One World Championship career | |
| Nationality |
 French |
| Active years | 1978–1982 |
| Teams | Tyrrell, Ligier, Ferrari |
| Entries | 72 (70 starts) |
| Championships | 0 |
| Wins | 3 |
| Podiums | 13 |
| Career points | 101 |
| Pole positions | 4 |
| Fastest laps | 5 |
| First entry | 1978 Argentine Grand Prix |
| First win | 1980 Belgian Grand Prix |
| Last win | 1982 Dutch Grand Prix |
| Last entry | 1982 German Grand Prix |
| 24 Hours of Le Mans career | |
|---|---|
| Participating years | 1976–1978, 1980 |
| Teams | Porsche Kremer Racing, J. Haran de Chaunac, Renault Sport, BMW France |
| Best finish | 1st (1978) |
| Class wins | 1 (1978) |
Didier Joseph Louis Pironi (26 March 1952 – 23 August 1987) was a French racing driver. During his career he competed in 72 Formula One World Championship Grands Prix, driving for Tyrrell (1978–1979), Ligier (1980) and Ferrari (1981–1982). He won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1978 driving a Renault Alpine A442B.
Pironi was born in Villecresnes, Val-de-Marne. He is the half brother of José Dolhem (they had the same father and their mothers were sisters). He began studying as an engineer and earned a degree in science, but entering the family construction business fell by the wayside following his enrollment at the Paul Ricard driving school.
He was awarded Pilot Elf sponsorship in 1972, a program designed to promote young French motorsport talent, that also led Alain Prost, René Arnoux and Patrick Tambay into Formula One. After becoming Formula Renault champion in France in 1974, taking the Super Renault championship title in 1976 and winning the prestigious Monaco Grand Prix Formula Three support race in 1977, Pironi made his F1 debut at the Argentine GP on 15 January 1978. This was with Ken Tyrrell's team which, despite being British, had a strong working relationship with Elf, dating back to the late 1960s. In the same year, Pironi was part of the massive Renault squad tasked with winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Partnering Jean-Pierre Jaussaud in the team's second car, the unusual "bubble roof" A442B, he won the race by four laps from the rival Porsche 936s.
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