Breaking news
Indy NXT
Former junior formula star Philippe dies in helicopter crash
Richard Philippe, 2005 Formula BMW USA champion, was among those who perished in a helicopter crash last week in the Dominican Republic.
David Malsher-Lopez
Edited: Nov 27, 2018, 3:50 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
The 28-year-old Frenchman, who was the younger brother of Indy car race winner Nelson Philippe, died along with their grandfather and three others including the pilot, a Lieutenant Colonel in the Dominican Air Force.
According to the Associated Press reports, their EuroCopter EC120 was shuttling from a hotel in Rio San Juan to Philippe’s home in Casa de Campo.
The director of the Investigative Commission of Aviation Accidents told AP that authorities lost contact with the helicopter 24 miles northwest of their destination.
After winning the ’05 Formula BMW USA championship, Philippe graduated to Champ Car’s Atlantic Series in ’06, racing for Forsythe Racing’s junior team.
Philippe, then 16, showed a similar mercurial talent to that of his brother Nelson, his high point that season being a runner-up finish at Cleveland, although he made it clear he was aiming to gain more junior open-wheel experience in Europe the following year.
After spells with Fortec and Carlin in Formula Renault 3.5 and the Formula 3 Euro Series, Philippe returned to the U.S. scene in 2009, joining Genoa Racing’s Indy Lights squad and taking second place at Long Beach, before a big shunt at Kansas Speedway forced him to miss several races.
He returned to action, now at Team PBIR, and scored another runner-up finish, this time at Edmonton.
Motorsport.com remembers Philippe as a friendly, open and fun-loving personality outside the cockpit, and a brave driver on track. We send our condolences to family and friends.
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Norman returns to Andretti Autosport Indy Lights team in 2019
Next article New and familiar faces set for Homestead Road To Indy test
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
David Malsher-Lopez
Alex Zanardi: The man whose name is a synonym for “hero”
IndyCar
IndyCar
Alex Zanardi: The man whose name is a synonym for “hero”
Remembering Michele Alboreto: F1 ace, Le Mans winner and a good man
Formula 1
Formula 1
Remembering Michele Alboreto: F1 ace, Le Mans winner and a good man
IMSA Laguna Seca: Ganassi Cadillac holds off Porsche for victory
IMSA
IMSA
Laguna Seca
IMSA Laguna Seca: Ganassi Cadillac holds off Porsche for victory
More from
Richard Philippe
Ultra 94 Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Canada by Michelin announces 2014 schedule
IMSA Others
IMSA Others
Ultra 94 Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Canada by Michelin announces 2014 schedule
Merecedes sweeps 24H of Dubai podium
Endurance
Endurance
Merecedes sweeps 24H of Dubai podium
EU: Team Autotecnica and RC motorsport join forces
Formula BMW
Formula BMW
EU: Team Autotecnica and RC motorsport join forces
Latest news
Lando Norris faces anxious wait as F2 prepares to decide future of his racing team
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Singapore GP
19 min
Lando Norris faces anxious wait as F2 prepares to decide future of his racing team
NASCAR Cup Phoenix starting lineup: Blaney earns pole as Larson struggles
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Phoenix II
1 h
NASCAR Cup Phoenix starting lineup: Blaney earns pole as Larson struggles
Ryan Blaney kind of faces a must-win scenario this weekend at Phoenix
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Phoenix II
2 h
Ryan Blaney kind of faces a must-win scenario this weekend at Phoenix
Catching Larson in the NASCAR Chase has to start at track where 'I suck'
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Phoenix II
2 h
Catching Larson in the NASCAR Chase has to start at track where 'I suck'
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe