April 2005

Nelson Philippe’s Brother Ready to Make His Mark

Siblings can often cast a long shadow, but Team Autotecnica driver, 15 year-old Frenchman Richard Philippe intends to cast some shadows of his own. His brother Nelson, three years Richard's senior last year became the youngest driver to start a race in the Champ Car World Series at just 17 years-old. Nelson returns for his second season this year and for Richard it will be his first in a racecar.

Having raced for more than half his life, Richard began karting in Argentina when he was barely 8 years-old and has continued ever since having raced in South America, Europe and the U.S. Racing he says is pretty much all he knows. His father Terry, who owns a medical equipment manufacturer, introduced both boys to racing because of his own love for the sport, but according to Richard, never forced them in to it. Both boys developed a passion for it all their own.

He now calls Key Biscayne, Florida home, but having lived on three different continents, has bestowed on him a level of maturity beyond his years. He speaks French, English and Spanish with aplomb; his observations are insightful and lacking naiveté.

When asked what his favorite track is he replies, "I respect all tracks." Pressed to elaborate he explains, "A racetrack is just a ribbon of pavement. It goes left and right making a circuit and returns to the same place. Some may give me more pleasure to drive than others, but in the end that doesn't matter. I need to go as fast as I can on all of them."

True enough. Witnessing the trials and tribulations of Nelson's year in 2004, Richards claims that he grew and learned a lot that will help him in his own career, primarily about people. However he is quick to dismiss that he will follow the same path as his brother but rather that he is on his own agenda. Richard puts forth almost adamantly so that he can not do it alone while at the same time recognizing that his destiny lies in no one's hands but his own.

"It's very important to have the right kind of people around you," says Richard. But how does he know if they are 'right?' "I don't pay attention to their reputation or past so much as the quality of interaction that I have with the person and how I feel about them."

And what must it be like to be a young racecar driver living in Key Biscayne, a place where distractions are everywhere?

"I like to hangout with my friends and go jet skiing or play tennis. Sometimes when I don't want to go to the gym because my friends are out enjoying themselves I tell myself, 'I could have some fun now, but if I am fit and winning on the racetrack, that will bring me even more pleasure in the future.'"

The tree that casts the longest shadow is often the one with the most leaves and apart from the others.