Paul Belmondo: “My father often told me “Stop, make films””

You have chosen the Paul-Belmondo Museum, in Boulogne-Billancourt (Hauts-de-Seine), as the starting point for our walk. Was your grandfather, a renowned sculptor, the origin of your passion for automobiles?

No way ! (Laughs) My grandfather drove very slowly. It had an automatic DAF with a so-called “Variomatic” transmission (continuously adjustable speed variator. Editor's note), with which I started out. Conversely, my father loved cars…

So does it come from him?

Rather, it is the fruit of a conjunction of things. After my parents divorced, my mother (Elodie Constantin. Editor's note) lived with director Hugh Hudson (Chariots of Fire, Greystoke, the legend of Tarzan, etc. Editor's note) who was then working on a documentary dedicated to Fangio (Fangio: Una vita a 300 all'ora. Editor’s note). For the filming, he went to Argentina and showed me photos, explained to me who this pilot was… I was fascinated! I remember watching the 1972 Monaco GP together on television, won by Jean-Pierre Beltoise. I was only 9 years old, but it's etched in my memory. Two years later, I was in the Principality, this time with my father, to attend the Grand Prix. I remember the Hôtel Hermitage, the room next door occupied by Jacky Ickx, their discussions and Jacky taking me to the stands. That’s when I said to myself: this is what I want to do!

It took a little while before you started karting ?

Yes, we started later at this time. I am 15/16 years old when I register for Volant RKB (Racing Kart Buffo, Seine-et-Marne. Ed.), which I finished 2nd. Then I won the Yamaha Challenge, and competed in a few Inter races, including the Trophy