Bianca's family had cards stolen, including Jules's car.

      Philippe Bianchi, the father of Jules Bianchi, a talented driver who passed away from severe injuries sustained at the Japanese Grand Prix in the autumn of 2014, shared some rather troubling news.

      Nine karts belonging to the Bianchi family, including the last kart Jules once drove, have been stolen. Here is a translation of the message Philippe Bianchi posted on social media:

      “Dear friends, today I appeal to the karting community. Last night we were robbed, and shameless thieves made off with nine JB17 Forever chassis. Moreover, they stole Jules’s last kart — a KZ 125 ART GP — as well as my grandchildren’s mini-karts.

      Beyond the actual value of these machines, they are precious to us, and we are very upset. If you see JB17 karts appearing anywhere, please report them. Thank you in advance.”

      The stolen equipment is truly more than just machines. They are linked to the Bianchi family’s efforts to preserve their son’s memory through their JB17 foundation, which trains and supports young drivers.

      And the kart Philippe Bianchi mentioned separately is of particular value because it is part of the history of French motorsport. It was on that kart that Jules honed his skills in his youth, when the talented driver caught the attention of Nicolas Todt, who became his manager.

      Bianchi made his Formula 1 debut in 2013 with the Russian Marussia team, and a big future was predicted for him — in 2015 he was due to replace Fernando Alonso at Ferrari — but his career was tragically cut short after the crash at the Suzuka circuit.

      More than ten years have passed since then, but Jules Bianchi remains an important symbol not only for French motorsport but also for Formula 1, not least because he was a mentor to Charles Leclerc.

      Of course, the bad news shared by the driver’s father sparked an outcry among fans, and everyone is hoping the stolen equipment will be recovered.