Philippe Étancelin wasn’t just a racing driver—he was one of the original trailblazers of motorsport’s golden age. Born in 1896, this sharp-dressed Frenchman (often seen racing in a cloth cap and tie) made his mark on both sides of the pre- and post-war divide in Grand Prix and endurance racing.
| Nationality | French |
|---|---|
| Born | Philippe Jean Armand Étancelin 28 December 1896 Rouen, Seine-Inférieure, France |
| Died | 13 October 1981 Neuilly-sur-Seine, Hauts-de-Seine, France |
Known affectionately as “Phi-Phi” in racing circles, Étancelin’s career was nothing short of remarkable. He won the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1934, conquering the gruelling endurance challenge at a time when just finishing was a feat in itself. But his true passion was Grand Prix racing, where he battled legends across four decades.
When Formula One officially launched in 1950, Étancelin—already 53 years old—lined up on the grid and proved age was no barrier. His fifth-place finish at the 1950 Italian Grand Prix earned him three World Championship points. Etancelin holds a notable record as the second oldest driver ever to start a Formula One race—at 55 years, 191 days old during the 1952 French Grand Prix, where he finished eighth.
Formula One History Recommends
Not one for quiet exits, Étancelin continued to show competitive flair into the early 1950s, with podium finishes at Rouen and Casablanca in 1953 before hanging up his helmet. For his service to French motorsport, he was awarded the Legion of Honour, France’s highest civil distinction.
But even retirement couldn’t keep him away from the track. Étancelin kept the flame alive with historic racing appearances well into the 1970s—his love of the sport unshaken.
He passed away on 13 October 1981 in Neuilly-sur-Seine.
Philippe Etancelin Formula One World Championship career
| F1 Career | 1950–1952 |
|---|---|
| Teams | Talbot-Lago (works and non-works), Maserati (non-works) |
| Entries | 12 |
| Championships | 0 |
| Wins | 0 |
| Podiums | 0 |
| Career points | 3 |
| Pole positions | 0 |
| Fastest laps | 0 |
| First entry | 1950 British Grand Prix |
| Last entry | 1952 French Grand Prix |
Philippe Etancelin Teammates
| 5 drivers | Involvement | First Year | Last Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| ROSIER Louis | 1 | 1950 | |
| Yves Giraud-Cabantous | 1 | 1950 | |
| Eugène Chaboud | 1 | 1950 | |
| Eitel Cantoni | 1 | 1952 | |
| Chico Landi | 1 | 1952 |
Complete Formula One Results
| Year | Entrant | Chassis | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | WDC | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950 | Philippe Étancelin | Talbot-Lago T26C | Talbot 23CV 4.5 L6 | GBR 8 | MON Ret | 500 | SUI Ret | ITA 5 | 18th | 3 | |||
| Automobiles Talbot-Darracq | Talbot-LagoT26C-DA | BEL Ret | |||||||||||
| Philippe Étancelin | FRA 5 † | ||||||||||||
| 1951 | Philippe Étancelin | Talbot-Lago T26C-DA | Talbot 23CV 4.5 L6 | SUI 10 | 500 | BEL Ret | FRA Ret | GBR | GER Ret | ITA | ESP 8 | NC | 0 |
| 1952 | Escuderia Bandeirantes | Maserati A6GCM | Maserati A6 2.0 L6 | SUI | 500 | BEL | FRA 8 | GBR | GER | NED | ITA | NC | 0 |
