Now aged 32, Bertrand Gachot is one of the fastest and most experienced Formula One drivers in the world today, having racing in the World Championship since 1989. With many successes behind him, he joined Pacific Grand Prix for its debut season in 1994, renewing an association which began back in 1985. In that year he was driving in Formula Ford and was introduced to Pacific Racing by close friend and racing driver Harald Huysman
Bertrand Gachot was born in Luxembourg on 23rd December 1962 to a French father and German mother, although he has lived most of his life in Brussels, Belgium, where he grew up and was educated. He took an early interest in motor racing, and while still a teenager he started racing in karts. Competitive and determined, he showed more potential when he moved into Formula Ford in 1984.
In 1985, with sponsorship from Marlboro Belgium, he drove for Pacific Racing, winning the British FF1600 title, and he remained with the team to claim the 1986 British FF2000 series and World Cup. On each occasion Bertrand's major rival was Mark Blundell, also a top Formula One driver in the 1990s, and each time it was Bertrand who was victorious. For the 1987 season Bertrand moved into Formula 3 with the famous West Surrey Racing team, the same team that had won the championship for drivers such as Ayrton Senna and Nelson Piquet. Although using less competitive Alfa Romeo engines, Bertrand still finished second in the British F3 Championship, battling throughout the season with Johnny Herbert.
The following season Bertrand's meteoric career saw him move up to Formula 3000, the final stepping stone to Formula One, and he finished fifth in the FIA Formula 3000 series at the wheel of a Spirit-TOM'S Motorsport Reynard.
He made his Grand Prix debut for the Onyx team in 1989, and has since raced for Coloni, Jordan and Larrousse. After achieving Jordan's first finish when he claimed 8th place at the 1991 Monaco Grand Prix, he went on to finish 5th in Canada, 6th Britain and 6th again in Germany. He also set fastest lap in the Hungarian Grand Prix. In that same year he also took time to compete in the Le Mans 24 Hours race for Mazda, and he scored a remarkable victory in the event with co-drivers Johnny Herbert and Volker Weidler.
In 1992 Bertrand finished 6th in the Monaco Grand Prix whilst driving for Larrousse, once again underlining his consistency and speed. In 1993 he concentrated on working with Pacific Grand Prix to develop the team's new Formula One project, and in 1994 he drove the team's Pacific-Ilmor PR01 at the 16 Grands Prix which comprised the World Championship. Despite the car's lack of competitiveness, Bertrand remained fully motivated throughout the season and worked tirelessly on the technical and commercial sides of the team.