Robert Brunet (8 Mar 1903–1986) was a French racing driver between 1931 and 1951. Most of his 44 entries were Grands Prix, but he also entered the 24 Hours of Le Mans. He achieved a class victory and was fifth overall in the 1949 edition.
Personal life and work
In 1926, Brunet married the Countess of Choiseul, a rich noblewoman, with whom he invested in his racing career by buying a Bugatti. However, he did not become successful until 1933, when he purchased the Bugatti T51 previously owned by Jean-Pierre Wimille. In 1934, Brunet replaced Louis Braillard as head of Ecurie Braillard and raced with Benoît Falchetto for the following two years without achieving major results. Besides racing, Brunet lead a factory which produced capacitors for cars. With the help of contracts with the French army, it had 400 employees by 1947. After the war, the firm folded rapidly and declared bankruptcy in 1950. This meant Brunet could not afford his ordered Talbot-Lago T26C and he stopped racing soon after the Porsche 356SL he was supposed to co-drive at the 1951 Le Mans race was crashed in practice.
Racing results No.YearDateRaceEntrantCarTeammate(s)Result11931July 26Dieppe Grand PrixR. Brunetde CoucynoneDNA21933February 19Pau Grand PrixBugatti T51DNF3March 26Tunis Grand PrixDNF4May 21Picardy Grand PrixDNF5June 4Nîmes Grand PrixDNA6August 15Coppa AcerboDNF7September 10Italian Grand Prix10th81934May 20Moroccan Grand PrixR. Brunetnone9th9May 27Picardy Grand Prix 3rd10June 17Penya Rhin Grand Prix6th11July 8Marne Grand PrixR. BrunetnoneDNF12July 15Vichy Grand Prix (Heat 2)DNF13July 22Albi Grand Prix6th14August 19Nice Grand PrixR. Brunetnone9th15August 26Comminges Grand Prix7th16September 9French motorcycle Grand Prix (Car class) Alfa Romeo 2nd17September 23Spanish Grand PrixMaseratiDNF181935February 24Pau Grand PrixMaserati 8CM5th19May 5Tunis Grand PrixDNF20May 26Picardy Grand PrixEcurie BraillardBenoît FalchettoDNF21June 2French motorcycle Grand Prix (Car class)5th22June 30Lorraine Grand PrixEcurie BraillardnoneDNA23July 21Dieppe Grand PrixBenoît Falchetto7th24August 4Comminges Grand PrixDNA25August 18Nice Grand PrixScuderia SubalpinaPhilippe EtancelinDNF261936March 1Pau Grand PrixR. BrunetnoneDNF27May 243 Hours of MarseilleDelahaye 1353rd28June 28French Grand PrixGoffredo Zehender3rd29July 5Marne Grand Prixnone7th30July 1224 Hours of SpaGoffredo ZehenderDNF31August 9Comminges Grand Prixnone6th32September 5RAC Tourist TrophyR. Brunet/SelborneCharlie Martin8th331937February 21Pau Grand PrixR. BrunetnoneDNF34June 19–2024 Hours of Le MansAndré ParguelAndré Parguel25th35July 18Marne Grand PrixR. BrunetDaniel PorthaultDNF361938April 3Mille MigliaBugattiGino RovereDNS371939June 17–1824 Hours of Le MansEcuria FranciaDelahaye 135Marcel ContetDNF (22nd)381946April 24Coupe du Palais de la Méditerranée Riley 1500/42nd39May 19Coupe de la Ville de St Etienne7th40June 9Coupe de Conseil MunicipalDNF411948September 1212 Hours of ParisHenri LouveauDelage D6Henri Louveau2nd421949April 24Paris Grand PrixR. BrunetFerrari 166CnoneDNA43June 25–2624 Hours of Le MansPierre MeyratDelahaye 135Georges GrignardPierre Meyrat5th (1st in class)441951June 2324 Hours of Le MansPorsche AGPorsche 356 SLRudolph SauerweinDNSSources:
References