Robert Brunet (8 Mar 1903–1986)[1][2] was a French racing driver between 1931 and 1951. Most of his 44 entries were Grands Prix, but he also entered the 24 Hours of Le Mans. He achieved a class victory and was fifth overall in the 1949 edition.

Personal life and work

1931 Bugatti Type 51

In 1926, Brunet married the Countess of Choiseul, a rich noblewoman, with whom he invested in his racing career by buying a Bugatti. However, he did not become successful until 1933, when he purchased the Bugatti T51 previously owned by Jean-Pierre Wimille. In 1934, Brunet replaced Louis Braillard as head of Ecurie Braillard and raced with Benoît Falchetto for the following two years without achieving major results. Besides racing, Brunet lead a factory which produced capacitors for cars. With the help of contracts with the French army, it had 400 employees by 1947. After the war, the firm folded rapidly and declared bankruptcy in 1950. This meant Brunet could not afford his ordered Talbot-Lago T26C and he stopped racing soon after.[2]

Racing results

No. Year Date Race Entrant Car Teammate(s) Result
1 1931 July 26 Dieppe Grand Prix R. Brunet de Coucy none DNA
2 1933 February 19 Pau Grand Prix Bugatti T51 DNF
3 March 26 Tunis Grand Prix DNF
4 May 21 Picardy Grand Prix DNF
5 June 4 Nîmes Grand Prix DNA
6 August 15 Coppa Acerbo DNF
7 September 10 Italian Grand Prix 10th
8 1934 May 20 Moroccan Grand Prix R. Brunet none 9th
9 May 27 Picardy Grand Prix 3rd
10 June 17 Penya Rhin Grand Prix 6th
11 July 8 Marne Grand Prix R. Brunet none DNF
12 July 15 Vichy Grand Prix (Heat 2) DNF
13 July 22 Albi Grand Prix 6th
14 August 19 Nice Grand Prix R. Brunet none 9th
15 August 26 Comminges Grand Prix 7th
16 September 9 French motorcycle Grand Prix (Car class) Alfa Romeo 2nd
17 September 23 Spanish Grand Prix Maserati DNF
18 1935 February 24 Pau Grand Prix Maserati 8CM 5th
19 May 5 Tunis Grand Prix DNF
20 May 26 Picardy Grand Prix Ecurie Braillard Benoît Falchetto DNF
21 June 2 French motorcycle Grand Prix (Car class) 5th
22 June 30 Lorraine Grand Prix Ecurie Braillard none DNA
23 July 21 Dieppe Grand Prix Benoît Falchetto 7th
24 August 4 Comminges Grand Prix DNA
25 August 18 Nice Grand Prix Scuderia Subalpina Philippe Etancelin DNF
26 1936 March 1 Pau Grand Prix R. Brunet none DNF
27 May 24 3 Hours of Marseille Delahaye 135 3rd
28 June 28 French Grand Prix Goffredo Zehender 3rd
29 July 5 Marne Grand Prix none 7th
30 July 12 24 Hours of Spa Goffredo Zehender DNF
31 August 9 Comminges Grand Prix none 6th
32 September 5 RAC Tourist Trophy R. Brunet/Selborne Charlie Martin 8th
33 1937 February 21 Pau Grand Prix R. Brunet none DNF
34 June 19–20 24 Hours of Le Mans André Parguel André Parguel 25th
35 July 18 Marne Grand Prix R. Brunet Daniel Porthault DNF
36 1938 April 3 Mille Miglia Bugatti Gino Rovere DNS
37 1939 June 17–18 24 Hours of Le Mans Ecuria Francia Delahaye 135 Marcel Contet DNF (22nd)
38 1946 April 24 Coupe du Palais de la Méditerranée Riley 1500/4 2nd
39 May 19 Coupe de la Ville de St Etienne 7th
40 June 9 Coupe de Conseil Municipal DNF
41 1948 September 12 12 Hours of Paris Henri Louveau Delage D6 Henri Louveau 2nd
42 1949 April 24 Paris Grand Prix R. Brunet Ferrari 166C none DNA
43 June 25–26 24 Hours of Le Mans Pierre Meyrat Delahaye 135 Georges Grignard
Pierre Meyrat		 5th (1st in class)
44 1951 June 23 24 Hours of Le Mans Porsche AG Porsche 356 SL Rudolph Sauerwein DNS
Sources:

[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11]

References

  1. 1 2 "Robert Brunet | Racing career profile | Driver Database".
  2. 1 2 3 "The Golden Era of Gp Racing 1934-40 - Drivers (B)". Archived from the original on 2019-05-21. Retrieved 2014-07-02.
  3. ↑ "Robert Brunet (F) - Racing Sports Cars".
  4. ↑ "1946 Grands Prix".
  5. ↑ "1935 AIACR European Driver Championship and Grands Prix". www.teamdan.com. Archived from the original on 2002-10-18.
  6. ↑ http://www.race-database.com/driver/career.php?driver_id=rbrun1
  7. ↑ "8W - What? - Delahaye 135".
  8. ↑ "Grand Prix de Paris 1949 « Non-Championship F1 (3-litre)".
  9. ↑ "1946 Grand Prix Races - TNF's Archive".
  10. ↑ http://www.chicanef1.com/racetit.pl?year=1946&gp=Conseil%20Municipal%20Cup&r=1
  11. ↑ "Paris 12 Hours 1948 - Racing Sports Cars".
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