Philippe Chiappe (born 21 November 1963) is a French driver in the Formula 1 Powerboat World Championship, currently competing for the CTIC F1 Shenzhen China Team. A three-time champion, he won his first title in 2014, becoming the first Frenchman to do so, and then retained the championship in the following two seasons in 2015 and 2016. Chiappe is one of the longest-serving current drivers in the field, having made his debut in 2001 and entered his first full season in 2003. He started his 100th race at the Grand Prix of Sharjah in 2015.
Chiappe has spent all bar three of his seasons in F1 with Philippe Dessertenne's team which has undergone several name changes over the years and most recently has been heavily supported by Chinese sponsors. As one of only four drivers to win back-to-back championships, Chiappe has done so in a French-based team, driving a French Moore boat. His success has improved the sport's exposure in his own country and after his first title, France re-appeared on the series' calendar with a race of its own after an eight-year hiatus.
Away from Formula 1, Chiappe has also had success in endurance powerboat racing, having won multiple classes at the 24 Hours of Rouen event. He began his career in the French S850 class where he competed from 1998 to 2000 and afterwards moved to the French Vitesse S3000 class for 2001. Chiappe stayed for 2002 before making the step-up to F1 full-time in 2003, but returned to the S3000 class in 2006 and won the championship.
Racing record
Complete Formula 1 Powerboat World Championship results Year Entrant Hull Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 WDC Points 2001 Team Fuchs F1 Seebold Mercury 2.5l MAL POR HUN LAT ITA ITA GER IRE SHADNS ABURet – 0 2002 Charente Maritime EIGSI Team Seebold Mercury 2.5l POR ITA FIN HUN ITA GER MAL IRE SHA16 ABU16 28th 0 2003 F1 Ligier Sports Moore Mercury 2.5l POR12 FIN12 ITA13 GERRet MAL14 SINRet SHA12 ABU14 24th 0 2004 F1 Ligier Sports Moore Mercury 2.5l IND13 KSARet POR14 ITA12 ITA13 CHN11 SIN8 MAL10 KOR16 SHA9 16th 6 2005 F1 Ligier Sports / Charente-Maritime Moore Mercury 2.5l POR13 ITA12 SINRet QATDNS ABURet SHA11 23rd 0 2006 CTIC China Team Charente Maritime BaBa Mercury 2.5l QAT8 POR8 ITA11 CHN7 ABU4 SHADNS 11th 19 2007 Atlantic Team BaBa Mercury 2.5l POR8 FRA5 CHNRet CHNRet QAT4 QAT6 ABURet SHA6 8th 29 2008 F1 Atlantic Team BaBa Mercury 2.5l QAT7 POR10 FIN5 RUS8 CHN4 CHN6 ABU7 SHA5 7th 40 2009 F1 Atlantic Team Moore Mercury 2.5l POR1Ret POR212 FIN111 FIN25 RUS13 RUS27 CHN14 CHN210 CHN1Ret CHN23 QAT14 QAT23 ABU17 ABU23 SHA1Ret SHA2DNS 8th 82 2010 CTIC China Team Moore Mercury 2.5l PORRet RUSRet CHN9 CHNRet CHN2 QAT9 ABU5 SHARet 8th 26 2011 CTIC China Team Moore Mercury 2.5l QAT3 POR9 TAR5 UKR9 CHN3 ABURet SHA3 5th 47 2012 CTIC China Team Moore Mercury 2.5l QAT2 TAR3 UKR4 CHN3 ABU4 SHA6 2nd 62 2013 CTIC China Team Moore Mercury 2.5l BRA5 UKR1 CHN3 QATDSQ ABU2 SHA2 3rd 69 2014 CTIC China Team Moore Mercury 2.5l QAT2 CHNRet MID2 ABU1 SHA1 1st 70 2015 CTIC China Team Moore Mercury 2.5l QAT2 FRARet POR1 CHN1 ABU2 SHARet 1st 70 2016 CTIC F1 Shenzhen China Team Moore Mercury 2.5l DUB1 FRARet POR1 CHN3 CHN2 ABU2 SHA2 1st 97 * Season still in progress.
References