French drivers in F1 – René Arnoux

With 7 victories, René Arnoux is the second most victorious French driver in F1 rear Alain Prost, but could he make a career in today's motorsport? Nothing is less sure. Without the possibilities offered in the 70s, this pilot of modest origins would perhaps have remained at the stage of karting. It was on holiday in Rimini (Italy) that he discovered this sport at the age of 8. An accountant in a paper mill, his father built him his first kart and the son soon won his first regional titles, before being selected for the French team. Where, with modest means, he faced factory drivers such as Ronnie Peterson. At the beginning of the 70s, with his mechanic's CAP in his pocket, the young man from Grenoble emigrated to Turin where he worked for the famous