On March 2, 2022, he passed away at the age of 71. While he was suffering from lung cancer, heart complications arose and he ended up in a coma. After which he never woke up. He then left behind a close-knit clan, made up of and their two children, Lou (23 years old) and Tom (22 years old), as well as his ex-wife Dominique Bonnet and their elders, Julia (45 years old) and Olivier (43 ans).
Despite everything, Jean-Pierre Pernaut continues to live in each of them. Olivier, for example, had the chance, outside of the film sets: the course automobile. It is thanks to the journalist that he even became a pilot and that he now manages a team. So, he is taking the start of the Dakar rally raid on January 3 and this is the first time. “It’s a total discovery, with a lot of apprehension“, he admitted during an interview for France Sunday.
Motor racing, a family affair for the Pernauts
Olivier Pernaut is, however, counting on the strength of his entire family to see the event through to the end, who have always been immersed in the world of circuits. “My grandfather was a racing steward and founding member of ASAP (Picardy Automobile Sports Association), my uncle, Jean-François Pernaut, doctor and rally driver, as well as my father who did a lot of assistance for his brother, they showed me the photos and we only talked about That“, he remembered, also seeing himself again “sleep in the car, in the parking lot“with his famous father during the 24 hours of Le Mans for”watch the cars turn“.
It was therefore very natural that Olivier Pernaut seriously turned to this path to make a career out of it. “I attended two engineering schools in this field. (…) Very quickly, I joined the FFSA (French Motorsport Federation) driving school and I took my first license in 2004. This year, I am starting my 21st season and am so happy to have been able to turn my passion into my profession!“, he rejoices, being grateful also to have had the time to enjoy it with Jean-Pierre Pernaut: “From 25 to 34 years old, I had the chance to spend all my weekends in December and January with him, at the Andros Trophy. I picked him up on Thursday evening at TF1, he put on his jeans and sneakers in the parking lot, and we headed off to take a train or a plane. And there, the trip, the friends, the race, the adrenaline… It was so great, ten years of memories“.
And the story continues because Olivier Pernaut will in turn be able to transmit this passion to whom “love it“at his young age.”He would like to be an F1 driver“, announced his dad.”When he is 16, he will be able to drive on the track and it will be fun to share cars with him – like my father did with me – and help him become a good pilot“. The circle will then be closed!
