10 replies to this topic

[Gary C]

just got to wondering what Philippe Streiff is doing these days? About 15 years ago he used to organise that fantastic kart meeting in Paris (anyone remember the one where both Prost AND Senna turned up? I still have all of that on tape), other than that I've not heard what he's up to.

[philippe7]

I was going to say I had seen him on TV "a few weeks ago", but I now realise that it was two and a half years back that I had written the following on another thread ! ....

Originally posted by philippe7
By coincidence, Philippe Streiff was interviewed on the 8.00 o'clock news on one of the major french channels a few days ago . He has helped with the development of some new "joystick"- style car controls which enable him, although he has only very limited hand and fingers movement, to drive a road car on the street. Although hand-controls for paraplegic people ( ie paralysed from the waist down ) are today fairly common, this was the first showing of these "electrical" controls enabling tetraplegic people ( ie from the neck down ) to drive a car on the road in full autonomy. Besides the interview part, they also showed images of Philippe driving his car on the streets of Paris ( oh yes, and also this short clip of the accident......)

Philippe Streiff has shown a great deal of courage and determination since his accident, he never allowed himself to fall into despair and has been very active in the sport, as an organiser of the Bercy kart masters for many years for instance. He never misses an occasion to use his notoriety as a former F1 driver to gain media space for all actions towards the help of spine-injured people.

[Nordic]

http://uk.youtube.co...h?v=w03bmEhWA9Y

This could be the clip you saw, or it maybe something more recent.

I do not have speakers on my work PC so have no idea what he is saying!

[philippe7]

No, this is certainly a much more recent clip since it apparently was made in support of Sarkozy's campaign for presidency of France ! Less than a year old then, certainly . So, good find, thank you Nordic ! It's nice ( and moving, and difficult also.....) to see what Philippe's life is like .

[David Force]

Philippe is still involved with motor sporting events in France, he attended some of the 100 year celebrations last year in his country. I believe he still does some charity work

[Obster]

I remember him one year at the Canadian GP, before his accident, generously giving interviews to the local TV, enthusiastically talking about F1 racing. You could see the genuine excitement he had for racing, even in one of the smaller teams. These memories seem consistent with the "press on" attitude in the above posts.

[Der Pate]

What I know is, that he had that accident...managed to walk from the car...and fell down...is he still paralyzed...???

[bigears]

Motoring News unknown date.


Motoring News 10th May 1989.


Motoring News 12th July 1989.


Motoring News 31st August 1989.


Motoring News 20th December 1989.

[f1steveuk]

I'm in contact with Philippe from time to time, and he's getting along well, though to see him driving with no steering wheel in front of him is very strange! He attends a couple of Grand Prix a year, and is still organising charity events.

[Simon Arron]

I always liked Philippe Streiff - he was one of the friendliest, most approachable figures in the F2/F3000 paddock.

I covered the European F2 Championship for Motoring News in 1984 and retain an enduring memory of one particular phone call towards the end of the season. It was Philippe, busily piling francs into a payphone in the Paul Ricard paddock. He'd been testing for Renault and wanted to let me know he'd be driving the team's third car in the Portuguese GP. Even by the standards of the day, it was unusual behaviour for a driver on the cusp of F1.

It pains me to say that I haven't spoken to him since his accident. If the opportunity arises, I will endeavour to put that to rights.

[Der Pate]

Thanks to all, who answered me !!!