Gilles was a true racer in every sense, what he went through to get to F1 was amazing.
If you ever get a chance to read the biography of Prof Sid Watkins do it, he was involved with or responsible for a ton of the safety initiatives taken in the 70s to the 90s.
There is a story in the book about getting a ride from Gilles, to the airport after a race if I recall correctly. Prof Sid, Gilles and Gilles wife Joann are at the rental car and Watkins goes to get in the back, Joann tells him no you sit in the front with Gilles and proceeds to get in the back seat but down on the floor and covers her head with her arms. Watkins comments that it’s the weirdest thing he’s seen, until 5 minutes into the drive Gilles has frightened him so badly with his driving he’s wishing he was hiding in the back as well.
If you ever get a chance to read the biography of Prof Sid Watkins do it, he was involved with or responsible for a ton of the safety initiatives taken in the 70s to the 90s.
There is a story in the book about getting a ride from Gilles, to the airport after a race if I recall correctly. Prof Sid, Gilles and Gilles wife Joann are at the rental car and Watkins goes to get in the back, Joann tells him no you sit in the front with Gilles and proceeds to get in the back seat but down on the floor and covers her head with her arms. Watkins comments that it’s the weirdest thing he’s seen, until 5 minutes into the drive Gilles has frightened him so badly with his driving he’s wishing he was hiding in the back as well.