Gilles Picard

Gilles Picard

(France - 19 March 1955)

- Former enduro motorcycle rider for Husqvarna, Cagiva and Yamaha - 1998: winner of the Dakar Rally (co-driver) - 2003 and 2004: second place in the overall standings at the Dakar Rally (co-driver)

The Frenchman Gilles Picard, born in March 1955, is the father of three children. He began his career in enduro motorcycle sport in 1973 and took part in numerous competitions between 1973 and 1992 as a works rider for Husqvarna, Cagiva and Yamaha. Later he moved to the co-driver's seat in a rally car, pairing up with Hubert Auriol and Ari Vatanen in the Citroën works team. He then switched to Mitsubishi Motors and began a successful partnership with his compatriot Jean-Pierre Fontenay. In 1998 the two won the UAE Desert Challenge and, in the same year, triumphed at the Dakar Rally for the first time. In 2000 they took third place in each of the Dakar, Morocco and Por Las Pampas rallies and finished fourth in Dubai. In 2003 podium finishes followed at the Baja Italia and the UAE Desert Challenge, as well as an outstanding second place at the Dakar Rally. When Fontenay ended his active career after the 2003 Dakar, Gilles formed a new team with Hiroshi Masuoka, which won the Baja Italia in 2003 and took second place at the Dakar Rally in January 2004. In 2005 Gilles Picard will contest the Dakar Rally as co-driver to Luc Alphand.