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Good question. To be honest I don't know which nationality he prefers. Some sources say Belgium, France and even Luxembourg, but the most of my sources say France. The funniest thing is my Formula One encyclopedia says both, French and Belgian. :confused: I hope I could you help a little bit. :p :Quote:
Originally Posted by V12
Personally myself, and being definitely biased, I hate to see drivers from Northern Ireland classed as British. There have been a handful of Northern Irish drivers in the past, most notably Eddie Irvine and John Watson. Both were classed as British many times. I'm not sure what Watson's view on that was, but Irvine certainly considered himself Irish in an interview many years ago. This led to a discrepancy over which flag to raise. His racing licence was Irish, but his passport was British.
Adam Carroll is a more recent example of a Northern Irish racing driver. His stints with the Irish A1GP team would surely assure him a tricolour flag if he ever makes an F1 break.
DRIVERS: BERTRAND GACHOTQuote:
Originally Posted by V12
Name: Bertrand Gachot
Nationality: France
Date of birth: December 23, 1962 - Luxembourg
http://www.grandprix.com/gpe/drv-gacber.html
He raced with a Belgian licence and had a Belgian passport, but was born in Luxembourg to a French father and a German mother.Quote:
Originally Posted by cynisca
"Bertrand Gachot was born in Luxembourg on 23rd December 1962 to a French father and German mother, although he has lived most of his life in Brussels, Belgium, where he grew up and was educated"
http://www.pacificgrandprix.com/aboutbg.html
Since Pacific Grand Prix employed him, I'd take that as definite.
I remember him racing in British F3 and being registered as a Belgian driver.
In terms of Nationality
JEAN-DENIS DELETRAZ (CH) - DRIVER
(CH) indicates Switzerland
ANDREA MONTERMINI (I) - DRIVER
(I) indicates Italy
BERTRAND GACHOT (F) - DRIVER
(F) Indicates France
http://www.pacificgrandprix.com/aboutbg.html
The middle picture on this page...
http://www.skyscraperpicture.com/f1pictures/gachot.htm
....shows a Belgian flag on the car next to his name (I think that's a Reynard 88D Formula 3000 car)....and there's also an EU flag on his helmet!
I think he's confused as to his real identity.
There's a film in this....the Gachot Identity. Sadly, due to a lack of talent, the sequel the Gachot Supremacy was never made.
Above: Bertrand Gachot at the wheel of his Onyx during his home Grand Prix in 1989 (left),Quote:
Originally Posted by tamburello
VVVVVVV This is Spa! So at least "someone" considers Belgium his home ;)
http://www.skyscraperpicture.com/f1pictures/gachot.htm
All I know is us Canadians never looked at the Villeneuves as anything BUT Canadian, although many in Quebec seem to think English Canadian drivers are to always finish BEHIND any French drivers.
We go through this sort of thing because it amuses someone in Quebec to keep trying to claim some independent status while sucking money out of the rest of the country.
The Villeneuves however were good guys, classy guys and always had a Canadian flag on their uni, along with the Quebec Fleur de Lys. If I was living in the UK, I wouldn't be offended by the drivers honourning their nation (Scotland, N.Ireland, Wales, England) or going as drivers from the UK with a Union Jack. We all know the reality of where they come from, where they pay their taxes and what they call home. No one who ever heard Colin McRae speak or Eddie Irvine speak was going to ever accuse them of being English....