Philippe Etancelin – Privateer

Philippe Etancelin's racing career was unique in several ways. It spanned four decades from 1926 until 1952. When he placed fifth in the Italian Grand Prix in 1950 he became, at age 53, the oldest driver who scored championship points. And, at the inception of the F 1 Championship in 1950, Philippe was also 53 when he made his debut. He drove in twelve World Championship F1 Grands Prix prior to retiring from motor sports in 1952. And as a trademark, he wore a 1920 s style tweed cap, turned in reverse so that the visor was in the back. When helmets became mandatory, he simply wore the cap on top of the helmet. He was 56 years old when he drove his last race and in spite of the fact his Talbot was in competition with a faster Ferrari, Philippe still bagged third place.

Unlike so many other drivers, Etancelin did not grow up in a racing environment or have any great interest in automobiles or passion for racing when he was young. He was born on December 28, 1896 in Rouen, France and grew up there. He owned an estate and was also a merchant handling wool and bedsprings. He bought a Bugati T35A in celebration of the birth of his second child with the sole intention of using it for leisure driving. Then he began driving in local minor sporting events. After discovering that he enjoyed the sport, he started to take it seriously. Philippe was never an official works driver although at times he did drive with factory support. He was basically an independent private driver.

After buying another Bugati T35, he entered the Marne Grand Prix at Reims in July 1927 and won. Then he entered the Coppa Florio in St. Briac where he placed third overall and first in his class (2 litre). His wife, Suzanne Caroline, shared his enthusiasm for the sport and acted as his pit managed. She put their children in school in Rouen so she could accompany Philippe to international races. As he drove the circuit, she would relay signals to him using French sign language.

For some reason he sat out the 1928 season but was back on the speedway in 1929 winning four Grands Prix. He followed those up in 1930 with wins at the Algerian Grand Prix, the Dauphine Circuit, the French Grand Prix and the Grand Prix de Paul. He scored four wins again the following year. His major win in 1932 was the Grand Prix de Picardie, which he won again in 1933. He was leading the 1933 French Automobile Club Race until the final lap when Giuseppe Campari passed him. In 1934 he entered the 24 Hours of Le Mans partnered with Luigi Chinetti and they won. In 1936 he finished first at Pau driving an Alfa Romeo and completing 100 laps in 3 hours, 22 minutes and 22 seconds.

Known as Phi Phi to his friends, he was popular with his fans and after he retired he was awarded a Legion of Honor by the French government for his contribution to motor sports over four decades.