Théodore Eugène Pilette (8 September 1883 – 13 May 1921) was a Belgian

racing driver Auto racing (also known as car racing, motor racing, or automobile racing) is a motorsport involving the racing of automobiles for competition. In North America, the term is commonly used to describe all forms of automobile sport including non ...

. He started racing in 1903 and was the first Belgian to race at the

Indianapolis 500 The Indianapolis 500, formally known as the Indianapolis 500-Mile Race, and commonly shortened to Indy 500, is an annual automobile race held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana, United States, an enclave suburb of Indian ...

. Competing in the 1913 event with his works Mercedes-

Knight A knight is a person granted an honorary title of a knighthood by a head of state (including the pope) or representative for service to the monarch, the church, or the country, especially in a military capacity. The concept of a knighthood ...

, Pilette was among the first Europe-based drivers to travel from overseas for the race. Despite having the smallest engine, he took fifth place, averaging 68.148 mph (109.674 km/h) over the 500 miles (800 km). Pilette was the importer in Belgium for Bugatti and Mercedes. His concession, Etablissements Pilette, was located Rue Veydt in Brussels. Pilette died on his way back from the Mercedes factory in a road accident near Capellen with his mechanic, Bruyère. He was the father of auto racer

André Pilette André Théodore Pilette (6 October 1918 – 27 December 1993), son of former Indy 500 participant Théodore Pilette, was a racing driver from Belgium. He participated in 14 Formula One Formula One (F1) is the highest class of worldwide ...

, and grandfather of racer

Teddy Pilette Theodore "Teddy" Pilette (; born 26 July 1942) is a former racing driver from Belgium. He participated in 4 Formula One World Championship Grands Prix, the first on 12 May 1974 with Bernie Ecclestone's Brabham team. Son of André Pilette and g ...

Motorsports career results

Indianapolis 500 results

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Pilette, Théodore 1883 births 1921 deaths Belgian racing drivers Indianapolis 500 drivers People from Saint-Gilles, Belgium