Like father like son: the Oettls

Philipp takes stunning victory in Jerez to replicate his father, Peter

Philipp Oettl (Sudmental Schell GP Racing) secured his first Grand Prix victory at the Gran Premio Red Bull de España, holding off a late challenge from Marco Bezzecchi (Redox PrustelGP) to take a flawless P1. This result also meant that Oettl has followed in his father’s footsteps, Peter, by taking a lightweight class GP victory – a truly great father and son story.

Just two weeks after Philipp was born, Peter was competing at the 1996 Mugello 125cc GP, racing against the likes of Valentino Rossi, Lucio Cecchinello and Emilio Alzamora – all of whom are prominent figures around the current MotoGP™ paddock. The German - who earned his first GP win at the 1989 Hockenheim GP - lost out on the title to Manuel “Champi” Herreros in the same year, despite Manuel failing to record a win that year, while Öttl ended up with three. 

 

 

However, fast forward nearly 22 years and Peter would have that winning feeling once again, as son Philipp stood on the top step of the podium for the first time – his third rostrum in the Moto3™ class. After the race, Philipp spoke about how it feels to emulate his father.

“Yeah, it’s pretty awesome, there are some people in the paddock who have interviewed my father already after the podium, and now they’re the same people (interviewing me). It’s very special, I can’t describe it, it’s something that feels good. But he’s now got four more wins and a lot more podiums so I need to hurry up a little bit.”

The Oettl's join an elite group of father and son Grand Prix race winners - read more on this with Nick Harris!  

Kenny and Kenny Roberts Jr

During his illustrious ten-season Grand Prix career, Kenny Roberts clinched the 500cc World Championship three times (1978-1980). Then, when his son Kenny Roberts Jr won the 500cc title in 2000, the duo became the first father and son to win a 500cc Championship.

Graziano and Valentino Rossi

Valentino Rossi is well known for having nine-world titles to his name, however, his father Graziano was also a Grand Prix winner. In 1979, he won the Yugoslavian, Dutch and Swedish rounds in the 250cc class.

Helmut and Stefan Bradl

German rider Helmut Bradl recorded five wins in the 1991 250cc World Championship, finishing runner-up in the intermediate class standings. Exactly 20 years later, his son Stefan went one better and claimed the Moto2™ world title in 2011. 

Angel and Pablo Nieto

MotoGP™ Legend Angel Nieto was one of the most successful Grand Prix racers ever, earning 90 victories in his illustrious 21-season career. His son, Pablo, raced in the 125cc World Championship for 11 years, scoring one win, one second and six third place finishes between 2002 and 2004.

Philipp was also celebrating his 22nd birthday this weekend, and understandably, the German couldn’t think of a better present.

“It feels great to be on the podium with our small team, it’s a family team, our sponsors come from our local area, we’ve over 70 supporters, which is a lot, on the SKY bike it’s just SKY so we are a very very small team. I’m very very proud to be here and celebrate with my team, I think to have a good team like I have, a good KTM, everything, it’s the best birthday present.”

The Oettl’s are now etched into the record books as a father and son winning duo, can the younger German go on to better his father's records?