“Not just equipment”: the heartfelt cry of Jules Bianchi’s loved ones after his first karts were stolen
The home of Philippe Bianchi, father of Jules, a former Formula 1 driver who died in 2015, was burgled on Monday evening. The perpetrators stole “several karts, small karts, and chassis” that belonged to the talented driver from Nice.
A little over ten years after his death, Jules Bianchi’s loved ones continue to honor his memory, notably through the association named after him and events such as the “Jules Bianchi Karting Marathon,” organized at the Paul Ricard circuit. They also do so in private, keeping objects from his young career, which ended suddenly at the age of 25 after nine months in a coma following a terrible accident at the Japanese Grand Prix.
But his memory was tarnished on Monday evening by the burglary of his father Philippe‘s home. “Dear friends, I am addressing my karting family this evening (Tuesday). Last night (Monday), we were burgled and the unscrupulous thieves made off with nine JB17 Forever chassis,” lamented the Nice native’s father on Facebook on Tuesday evening. Even worse, they stole Jules’ last kart, a KZ 125 ART GP model, as well as my grandsons’ minikarts. Apart from the value of the machines, it is the sentimental value that hurts us. If you see any JB17 karts around, please let me know. Thank you in advance.”
“Last night, you didn’t walk through the wrong door… you walked through the wrong life. What you took isn’t just a piece of equipment. It has almost no market value, and for one obvious reason: you’ll never be able to use it. It’s identified, traceable, and unusable on a karting track,” emphasizes Dominique Guillien, the driver’s former mechanic. But above all, it belonged to Jules Bianchi. A man, a driver, a child of karting. A name that all enthusiasts know, respect, and still carry in their hearts. Jules left such a strong impression that even a five-year-old child knows his story, his courage, his humanity. Bebikarts run under special dispensation on very few circuits. Their value is low, but the moral weight of this theft is immense. The day you try to use them, you will be immediately recognized, unmasked… and your children will also understand what you have done. By stealing this equipment, you have not only taken objects. You have reopened a wound. You have stolen a memory. You have caused Jules’ parents and loved ones to suffer a second time.
Being a thief is already a fall from grace. But persisting would be a choice. There is still time to make amends. Leave this equipment in a place where it can be returned to his family. Make this gesture. For them. For yourself. Some things cannot be bought, cannot be resold… and should never be stolen.”