Gérard Pillon

1/1/1937

Record updated

Pillon is the Co-founder and owner of the Domaine des Balisiers Winery. He first worked at the laboratories of the Battelle Memorial Institute of Geneva before becoming an entrepreneur. In 1983 he founded Domaine des Balisiers together with Jean-Daniel Schlaepfer. As a specialist in wine technology Gérard is responsible for the Domaine's technological research and development. He raced sports prototypes. He won the non championship sportscar race Internationales Flugplatzrennen Ulm-Laupheim in 1969 in his Lola T70 Mk.3B. Driving with Louis Morand, they did not start the Austrian GP, 1000 km at Zeltweg due to engine problems. In 1970 he took the Lola to Argentina and raced in the 1000 km Buenos Aires unfortunately failing to finish due to an accident in the Lola T70 Mk.3B Chevrolet (SL76/147). Also failed to finish the 200 mile Buenos Aires and the 1000 km de Paris, Montlhéry DNF with an oil leak. DNQ 1000 km Monza, 1000 km Spa DSQ for receiving outside assistance. In 1971 9th in the 1000 km Monza driving a Porsche 917K (025) with Dominique Martin. At the 1000 km Spa they went out when they had an accident caused by a puncture. at 24 h Le Mans they failed to finish with gearbox problems. He drove a Sauber and came 4th at the Grand Prix Casablanca sports car race. 1972 and Pillon was back in a Lola this time a Scuderia Filipinetti T290 Ford driving with Jacques Cochet. At Monza in a race won by Jacky Ickx and Clay Regazzoni ina Ferrari 312PB, they went out with water in the electrics. At le Mans that year he teamed up with Bernard Cheneviére and Florian Vetsch in a Scuderia Filipinetti Ferrari 365 GTB/4 (14437) having failed to qualify the Lola with Cochet and Martin, but went out with an accident on lap 204. He was also a regular competitor in hill-climbs