The father of late Formula 1 driver Jules Bianchi says thieves have taken the last kart raced by his son.

Jules Bianchi with an ART GP kart
Jules Bianchi with an ART GP kart

The KZ 125 ART GP machine was one of a dozen karts taken by the thieves, Philippe Bianchi announced on social media. He indicated the burglary took place on Monday.

His son Jules Bianchi raced in F1 from 2013 to 2014, but suffered serious head injuries in a crash during the latter season, from which he never recovered. He died in July 2015.

The family was especially distressed by the loss of the kart which played an important part in their late son’s progress through the junior ranks of motor sport.

“The unscrupulous thieves made off with nine JB17 Forever karts,” said Philippe Bianchi. “Even worse, they stole Jules’ last kart, a KZ 125 ART GP model, plus my grandsons’ mini karts.

“Aside from the value of the machines, it’s the sentimental value that hurts us the most.”

The future F1 driver made his start in go-karts at the age of five on the track owned by his father. He continued racing karts until the age of 17, after which he made a highly successful transition into car racing.

In the three years after he graduated from karting Bianchi won the French Formula Renault 2.0 series, the prestigious Formula 3 Masters race and, in 2009, the former European Formula 3 championship.

The Ferrari Driver Academy appointed Bianchi in 2011 and two years later he made his F1 debut with Marussia. The following year he achieved the team’s first points finish, in the Monaco Grand Prix, which yielded a ninth-place finish in the constructors’ championship and secured prize money which enabled the team to continue racing in the season after he died.

His father said the family would welcome any information about the whereabouts of their karts. “If you see any JB17 karts in circulation, please let me know,” he said. “Thank you in advance.”

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