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Jean-Pierre Wimille
Jean-Pierre Wimille (French pronunciation: [ʒɑ̃pjɛʁ vimil]; 26 February 1908 – 28 January 1949) was a French racing driver and a member of the French Resistance during World War II. He was a two-time victor of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, winning in 1937 and 1939. He is generally regarded as one of the best French drivers of his era. In 1949, he was killed when he crashed his car into a tree while practicing for a race.
Wimille was an agent for the covert Special Operations Executive of Britain in World War II. He joined fellow race-car drivers William Grover-Williams and Robert Benoist in the resistance against the German occupation of France. He survived the war; Grover-Williams and Benoist were captured by the Germans and executed.
Wimille was born in Paris, France to a father who was employed as the motoring correspondent for the Petit Parisien newspaper. Jean-Pierre Wimille developed a fascination with racing cars at a young age. He was 22 years old when he made his Grand Prix debut, driving a Bugatti 37A at the 1930 French Grand Prix in Pau.
In 1931, Wimille finished second at the Monte Carlo Rally, driving a Lorraine-Dietrich. Driving a Bugatti T51, in 1932 he won the La Turbie hill climb, the Grand Prix de Lorraine and the Grand Prix d'Oran. In 1934 he was the victor at the Algerian Grand Prix in Algiers driving a Bugatti T59 and in January 1936 he finished second in the South African Grand Prix held at the Prince George Circuit in East London, South Africa then won the French Grand Prix in his home country.
Still in France, that same year Wimille won the Deauville Grand Prix, a race held on the city's streets. He won in his Bugatti T59 in an accident-marred race that killed drivers Raymond Chambost and Marcel Lehoux in separate incidents. Of the sixteen cars that started the race, only three managed to finish.
In 1936, Wimille traveled to Long Island, New York to compete in the Vanderbilt Cup where he finished second, behind the winner, Tazio Nuvolari. He also competed in the 24 hours of Le Mans endurance race, winning in 1937 and again in 1939. In 1940, Wimille developed with Marcel Lesurque an electric car able to reach 50 km/h.
Wimille and fellow Grand Prix race drivers Robert Benoist and William Grover-Williams joined the clandesine Special Operations Executive of Britain, which aided the French Resistance during the 1940-1944 occupation of France by Nazi Germany. Wimille was the only one of the three to survive the war.
With the outbreak of World War II in 1939, Wimille joined the French air force, but after France's defeat in June 1940 he was demobilized. His racing career halted because of the war, he spent his time designing an electric car. In late 1943, he was recruited by fellow race-car driver Robert Benoist as an agent for SOE. Benoist's network was based near Nantes and was called Clergyman. Wimille joined Benoist's network, becoming his deputy, along with wireless operator Denise Bloch and others. The operatives of Clergyman achieved their objective of destroying several power line pylons.
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Jean-Pierre Wimille
Jean-Pierre Wimille (French pronunciation: [ʒɑ̃pjɛʁ vimil]; 26 February 1908 – 28 January 1949) was a French racing driver and a member of the French Resistance during World War II. He was a two-time victor of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, winning in 1937 and 1939. He is generally regarded as one of the best French drivers of his era. In 1949, he was killed when he crashed his car into a tree while practicing for a race.
Wimille was an agent for the covert Special Operations Executive of Britain in World War II. He joined fellow race-car drivers William Grover-Williams and Robert Benoist in the resistance against the German occupation of France. He survived the war; Grover-Williams and Benoist were captured by the Germans and executed.
Wimille was born in Paris, France to a father who was employed as the motoring correspondent for the Petit Parisien newspaper. Jean-Pierre Wimille developed a fascination with racing cars at a young age. He was 22 years old when he made his Grand Prix debut, driving a Bugatti 37A at the 1930 French Grand Prix in Pau.
In 1931, Wimille finished second at the Monte Carlo Rally, driving a Lorraine-Dietrich. Driving a Bugatti T51, in 1932 he won the La Turbie hill climb, the Grand Prix de Lorraine and the Grand Prix d'Oran. In 1934 he was the victor at the Algerian Grand Prix in Algiers driving a Bugatti T59 and in January 1936 he finished second in the South African Grand Prix held at the Prince George Circuit in East London, South Africa then won the French Grand Prix in his home country.
Still in France, that same year Wimille won the Deauville Grand Prix, a race held on the city's streets. He won in his Bugatti T59 in an accident-marred race that killed drivers Raymond Chambost and Marcel Lehoux in separate incidents. Of the sixteen cars that started the race, only three managed to finish.
In 1936, Wimille traveled to Long Island, New York to compete in the Vanderbilt Cup where he finished second, behind the winner, Tazio Nuvolari. He also competed in the 24 hours of Le Mans endurance race, winning in 1937 and again in 1939. In 1940, Wimille developed with Marcel Lesurque an electric car able to reach 50 km/h.
Wimille and fellow Grand Prix race drivers Robert Benoist and William Grover-Williams joined the clandesine Special Operations Executive of Britain, which aided the French Resistance during the 1940-1944 occupation of France by Nazi Germany. Wimille was the only one of the three to survive the war.
With the outbreak of World War II in 1939, Wimille joined the French air force, but after France's defeat in June 1940 he was demobilized. His racing career halted because of the war, he spent his time designing an electric car. In late 1943, he was recruited by fellow race-car driver Robert Benoist as an agent for SOE. Benoist's network was based near Nantes and was called Clergyman. Wimille joined Benoist's network, becoming his deputy, along with wireless operator Denise Bloch and others. The operatives of Clergyman achieved their objective of destroying several power line pylons.
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