One of Jules Bianchi’s stolen karts has been recovered. Jules’s father, Philippe Bianchi, announced the welcome news himself on his social channels. Earlier, Bianchi senior posted an emotional appeal after nine karts belonging to the late Formula 1 driver were stolen. Jules Bianchi died in 2015 from injuries sustained in his crash during the 2014 Japanese GP.
Philippe Bianchi, Jules’s father, last week issued an emotional appeal on Facebook to recover his late son’s karts. “Dear friends, tonight I reach out to my karting family,” wrote Bianchi senior. “Last night our premises were broken into and merciless thieves took nine JB17 Forever chassis. Worse still, they stole Jules’s last kart, along with my grandsons’ mini karts. Beyond the material value, it is the emotional and sentimental value that hurts us.” Bianchi closed his message by urging everyone in the karting community to report if they came across any of the stolen karts.
Last of Jules Bianchi’s karts recovered
The appeal has paid off. One of the stolen karts has indeed been found. It’s the final kart Jules raced before stepping up to single-seaters. “With great joy I can confirm that Jules’s kart has been found. A huge relief for our whole family,” the father wrote on his own social channels. “Many thanks to everyone who shared this on social networks, to the media who spread the information and to the Brignoles police station for their action. I thank you all from the bottom of my heart for making this possible. We still need to locate a few karts and a mini motocross bike, but thanks to all of you I have good hope. Jules, forever.”
A total of nine karts were stolen from the family home in Brignoles, including the KZ 125 ART GP — the last kart Jules Bianchi raced before he stepped up to single-seaters — along with several minikarts belonging to Bianchi Sr.’s grandsons. Jules Bianchi died in 2015 from injuries sustained in his crash at the 2014 Japanese Grand Prix. After his son’s tragic death, Bianchi Sr., together with the rest of the family, has been working to keep Jules Bianchi‘s motorsport legacy alive.
