QUENTIN GUIBERT: “MY FIRST MOTORSPORT MEMORY WAS WATCHING NIGEL MANSELL”

A few years ago, Quentin Guibert was pounding the beat as a local policeman in France, catching speeding motorists and making arrests. Now, he’s making a name in the world of motorsport art for his beautiful portrayals of legendary racing cars. With the ink drying on his latest work, the Glickenhaus Hypercar, and more work in the pipeline with Motul, we find out more about his extraordinary new career.

Well, after three years in the Gendarmerie, and after trying to make it a career, I took the decision to change my personal target. I was already in motorsport, with my cartoons, so I talked about my choice of careers with my close friends, and they pushed me to make a professional change. As it turns out, I'm very happy with my choice: I can do what I like, talk with famous drivers and great companies, and my work is recognised in the world of motorsport.

The project with Motul is both simple and complicated at the same time [laughs]. To start with, I have to draw two artworks, and if Motul’s management likes what they see, I will draw the official 2022 Motul calendar. The drawings will be about the brand in motorsport, but first we have to check together what I will draw. But I’m so happy to work with Motul. This is a great opportunity for me and it’s an honour that a company like Motul would like to use my talents and services.

My design process is based on pictures. They help give me the perspective I need. Afterwards, I adjust them if, for example, I have to draw a livery for example. The most complicated part is the background. Sometimes, the thing I have in my mind doesn’t match with reality, so I need to re-think this. Of course, when a customer wants something, I always do what they want. As for inspirations, I'm interested and inspired by everything: fashion, art, objects of life, movies, music... I try to reset my mind as often as possible, to stay very creative.

As far as I can remember, my first motorsport memory was watching Nigel Mansell on TV racing his Williams Renault in 1992. I don’t know why, but I have always loved cars. When I was three years old, I knew every model of car. In my family, no one loved cars or motorsport, so I am the first. Later, my dad, who was also a highway cop, worked as security for the Automobile Club de Monaco during the Monaco Rally, and he met a lot of drivers. So, I have some autographs, and we are close friends with the legendary Citroen driver Pierre Lartigue, who is my childhood hero. You could say I'm living a dream, and I work hard every day to achieve it.