JULES BIANCHI

Date and place of birth

3 August 1989, Nice, France

Date and place of death

17 July 2015 (25 years), Nice, France

Biography

The racer of the Russian-British Formula One team Marussia, which made its debut in the 2012 season, was considered to be one of the sport's most talented young drivers. He came from a famous sports car dynasty – he was the grandson of Mauro Bianchi and the nephew of Lucien Bianchi, who raced in the 1960s. On 5 October 2014 his car flew off the track on the 47th lap of the Japanese Grand Prix and crashed into a tow truck which was on the side of the road. Bianchi suffered a severe head injury and fell into a coma, from which he did not recover. The driver's funeral took place in the Cathedral of Saint Reparata in Nice – the homeland of Jules Bianchi. A street in Nice was named in memory of the young rider. And the number 17, Bianchi's number in Formula 1, will never be used again after a decision by the FIA to permanently assign it to Jules. In Monaco, the Jules Bianchi Association was founded, which helps young drivers realise their potential.