Jules Bianchi’s karts stolen: his father Philippe’s poignant appeal
A burglary that affects an emotionally charged legacy
More than eleven years after Jules Bianchi’s tragic death, his name continues to resonate with emotion in Formula 1 and the world of motorsport. This week, however, it was for a painful reason that the Bianchi family found themselves in the spotlight, after several karts belonging to the former French driver were stolen.
Philippe Bianchi, Jules’ father, shared a message on social media to alert the karting and motorsport community. JB17 chassis, linked to the legacy of the late driver, were stolen, including one of the last karts used by Jules before he moved to single-seaters.
Jules Bianchi made his Formula 1 debut in 2013 with the Marussia team. He made history for the team by scoring his first and only points at the 2014 Monaco Grand Prix, a remarkable performance on a circuit where driver talent makes all the difference. As a member of the Ferrari program, the Frenchman was then considered a serious future candidate for a seat with the Scuderia.
However, his career and life were brutally cut short after his terrible accident during the 2014 Japanese Grand Prix, which took place in extremely dangerous weather conditions. Seriously injured, Jules Bianchi passed away nine months later, leaving behind a huge void in the paddock.
Even today, his memory remains vivid, and the announcement made by his father has deeply affected the community. In an emotional message, Philippe Bianchi detailed the facts.
“Dear friends, tonight I am addressing my karting family,” he wrote.
“Last night, we were burgled and unscrupulous thieves made off with nine JB17 Forever chassis.”
The damage goes far beyond the mere material value.
“Worse still, they stole Jules’ last kart, a KZ 125 ART GP model, as well as my grandsons’ mini-karts. “
“Beyond the value of the machines, it is the sentimental value that hurts us the most.”
In his message, he makes a direct appeal to anyone who might come across these karts on the market.
“If you see any JB17 karts in circulation, please let me know. Thank you in advance.”
This appeal highlights how precious Jules Bianchi’s legacy remains for his family, but also for the entire world of motorsport, still marked by the tragic fate of one of its most promising talents.
