Jacques Pollet, who already competed in the Formula 1 race in Chimay for Gordini in 1953, which is not part of the world championship , became a test driver for the French racing team in 1954. In 1954 he made his debut in the world championship. But both at the race in France and at the event in Spain he retired prematurely after an engine failure.
After finishing sixth at the Bordeaux Grand Prix and third place in Caen (which he had to share with Jean Behra ), he had a serious and momentous accident in Chimay. Pollet led the race when a blown stone damaged his glasses and he fell back. In the subsequent race to catch up, he lost control of his vehicle and raced into a group of spectators. Two spectators died in the fatal accident. In Le Mans that same year he was sixth in the overall standings with André Guelfi , winning the class up to 3000 cm³.
In 1955 he drove the Gordini Type 16 in three other Formula 1 world championship races. Seventh place in Monaco was his best result.