Jules Bianchi was one of the greatest hopefuls in French motorsports. A title-winner in Formula Renault in his very first season, he continued to rise consistently in the ranks of single-seaters with Ferrari's support, prior to winning with Marussia in Formula 1 in 2013. He scored his first points the next year at the highly prestigious Grand Prix of Monaco, which he finished in ninth place. This promising trajectory was brutally interrupted on October 5, 2014 at the Grand Prix of Japan when his No. 17 Marussia violently collided with a towing vehicle intervening with the Sauber of German driver Adrian Sutil. After a nine-month coma, Jules Bianchi died last night at the CHU in Nice. "Jules fought until the end just as he had always done," stated his family, who also thanked everyone who has offered their support since October.

Born in Nice on August 3, 1989, Jules Bianchi came from a long line of drivers. His great-uncle Lucien (1934-1969) - an endurance expert in the big road marathons of the 1960s (with wins at the 12 Hours of Sebring, at Liège-Sofia-Liège and at the Automobile Tour de France) - also won at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1968 at the wheel of a Ford GT40 along with Mexican driver Pedro Rodriguez. During the same period, his grandfather Mauro (born in 1937) was an important competitor in Formula 3 and also an official Alpine driver at Le Mans.

To his family and loved ones, the Automobile Club de l'Ouest offers its deepest sympathies.