Jean Todt

Jean Todt (called “Commendatore auvergnat” or “small Napoleon”) (born the February 25th 1946 in Pierrefort in Auvergne) is a former copilot of French rally, become director of stable of automobile Sport, initially of Peugeot Talbot Sport, then of the Scuderia Ferrari, then directing and administrator of Ferrari since 2004. It took down 5 victories with the Rallye Paris-Dakar with Peugeot, 6 championships of the world manufacturer with the Scuderia Ferrari and 5 championships of the world of the pilots with Michael Schumacher.

Biography

Jean Todt, wire of a country doctor amateur of Automobile race is born the February 25th 1946 with Pierrefort, in the Cantal, in Auvergne. He is graduate EDC (School of the leaders and creators of Entreprise).

Copilot of car rally 1966 to 1981

Like his father, Jean impassions himself for the automobile sport and in particular the pilots Jim Clark and daN Gurney. He borrows the Mini Cooper S of his father to become pilot of Car rally but its lack of talent pushes it to be directed towards the copilotage. In 1966, he is the copilot of his friend Guy Chasseuil. Its great talents of calculator, strategist and organizer make a navigator of it great talent. In 1969, Todt côtoie the world gratin of the discipline of which Jean-Pierre Nicolas, Rauno Aaltonen, Ove Andersson, Hannu Mikkola and Guy Fréquelin…

In 1981, he is copilot of Guy Fréquelin at Talbot, subsidiary of Peugeot, with which he becomes vice-champion of the world of the pilots of rally and World champion of the manufacturers. It overflows gradually of its role of copilot to invest itself in the management of the team and the relations with the TRUSTED.

Director of Peugeot Talbot Sport 1982 to 1993

In 1982, it withdraws competition as a copilot and is seen entrusting the sporting direction of Peugeot by the chairman Jacques Calvet whereas the company PSA Peugeot Citroen knows important difficulties of image and finances. It puts its talents of rigorous organizer and strategist at the service of the creation of Peugeot Talbot Sport, entity created to allow the return to the competition of the French firm and becomes project superintendent of the 205 T16, 405 T16 and 905.

In 1984, Peugeot makes its return in championship of the world of the rallys and, as of 1985 and 1986, Peugeot 205 Turbo 16 Group B controlled by Timo Salonen then Juha Kankkunen obtains crushing results (double champion of the world of the manufacturers). Unfortunately, in 1986, Henri Toivonen, pilot on Lancia Delta is killed with the Tour out of Corsica and TRUSTED it prohibited the Groupe B considered to be too fast and too dangerous.

In 1987, Todt directs its 205 Turbo 16 towards the Rally-raid with for test headlight the Rallye Paris-Dakar. It is under the fire of the projectors the day or it plays pile or face the victory of the Paris Dakar 1987 between its two pilots Ari Vatanen and Jacky Ickx to prevent that their fight for the final victory does not cause the abandonment and the victory with the stable. Of 1988 with 1991, it renews its exploit crushing by gaining four new victories in Paris-Dakar with Ari Vatanen. Then Peugeot decides to give up the rally-raids and to leave this discipline to Citroen which will gain the test with the Citroen ZX Rally-Raid conceived starting from the frame of Peugeot 405.

In 1992, it gains the 24 hours of Mans with the Peugeot 905 controlled in particular by Derek Warwick and in 1993, the 905 take down a triplet at the 24 hours of Mans with Geoff Brabham - Christophe Bouchut - Eric Hélary

Director of Scuderia Ferrari 1993 to 2007

In 1993, whereas Jean Todt 47 years old has just spent 12 years exceptional at Peugeot Talbot Sport, it vainly tries to convince Jacques Calvet to launch out in Formule 1. Luca di Montezemolo, new president of the Scuderia Ferrari recruits it. It begins the 1 {{er}} July with the Grand Prix from France of Magny-Course as director manager of Scuderia Ferrari and a team of four hundred technicians. He is the first foreigner with the head of Scuderia of the history of the mark with for challenge making join again the prestigious Italian stable of F1 with his last legendary success, whereas Ferrari saw one of the blackest periods of all its history.

In 1994, one year hardly after the beginning of the challenge, Gerhard Berger gains the automobile Grand Prix of Germany (the first success since 4 years) but the Benetton - Ford of Michael Schumacher (world champion 1994 and 1995) and the Williams-Renault of Ayrton Senna, Damon Hill, Nigel Mansell and David Coulthard largely dominate the competition.

At the end of the season 1995, Jean Todt recruits the double champion of the German world Michael Schumacher which passes then for the best pilot of its generation. Michael then agrees to join the challenge of Jean Todt with whom it establishes relations of deep quasi subsidiary friendship. In 1996, Schumacher gains two consecutive victories with the automobile Grand Prix of Belgium then to the automobile Grand Prix of Italy. Todt recruits the technical ex-directors of Benetton - Ford, Rory Byrne and Ross Brawn, to replace John Barnard. In 1997 and 1998 Ferrari misses the World title of the pilots of some points at the time of the last races of the seasons behind the Williams - Renault of Jacques Villeneuve in 1997 and the McLaren - Mercedes of Mika Häkkinen in 1998 and 1999

In 1999, Jean Todt carries out his objective to make join again Ferrari with the legend of the automobile races by gaining in a dominating way five consecutive world titles with Schumacher, (2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004), of ever seen in all the history of Formula 1.

Director and administrator of Ferrari since 2004

June 1st 2004, Jean Todt is named director of Ferrari in addition to its title of director of the Scuderia Ferrari. The October 25th 2006,3 days after the end of the season of Formula 1 and the retirement of Michael Schumacher, he becomes managing director of the Scuderia Ferrari.

Succession

In 2007, it prepares Stefano Domenicali to be succeeded to him the direction of Scuderia in 2008. January 1st, 2007, it is high with the dignity of Grand Officer of the Legion of Honor.

It belongs to the 46 members of the Académie of the Sports and is one of the 12 members of the Board of trustees of the Group Lucien Barrière (one of the most important groups French of casino S, of hotels de luxe hotels, property of his/her personal friend Dominique Desseigne) It turns in the film Astérix and Obélix to the Olympic Games of Frederic Forestier and Thomas Langmann to the side of his friend Schumacher.

In addition, Jean Todt is one of the founding members of the Institut of the Brain and the Spinal-cord (ICM).

Prize list

Direction

Private life

August 6th 2007, Jean Todt, 61 years old, becomes engaged to Michelle Yeoh, mannequin (ex-Miss Malaysia) and Actrice of cinema (inter alia in Tigre and dragon, Demain never dies, Mémoires of Geisha) which it attends since 2004.

Jean Todt has a son, Nicolas, agent manager of pilots as Felipe Massa, Sebastien Bourdais or the young person Jules Bianchi and chairman of the stable of GP2 ART Grand Prix.

See too

External bonds

  • Official site of Peugeot Sport
  • Official site of Scuderia Ferrari
  • Official site of the EDC (School of the leaders and company founders)

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