Beginning his career in karts in 1981 Adams career developed steadily before making an impression in the 1988 British Vauxhall Lotus series, finishing seventh overall in the championship boasting Allan McNish and Mika Hakkinen. The following year he moved up to the British Formula Three series, taking a single win at Brands Hatch and sixth place in the final standings with his Bowman Ralt. A second year in the category in 1990 saw Adams yet again take sixth place overall, and despite a couple of second place finishes his points tally was way off the pacemakers Hakkinen and Salo.

For 1991 Phillipe tried his luck Japan, finishing twelfth in their Formula 3 Series also samped both Formula Nippon and Touring cars. His sojourn in the Far East sharpened his skills, for a much more confident driver returned to British Formula 3 in 1992. The Belgian took 3 wins in his Ralt RT35 to cement his place as runner up to runaway Champion Gil de Ferran. Despite his success Adams was forced to continue his career by stepping down the Halfords British Formula 2 championship for 1993 Five wins in the ten round series saw him emerge as the Champion, though in truth there were less than stellar names for him to compete against.

Single seaters seemed to be thing of the past for Adams as he settled into competition in the Belgian Procar series with an Audi 80 Quattro. However the chance to buy a drive for a reported cash injection of $500,000. in the then financially ailing Lotus team for the 1994 Belgian Grand Prix proved irresistible. The wet conditions in practice saw the hapless driver damage his car extensively, but he scraped onto to the grid nonetheless. In the race more disappointment followed and he slid into retirement after numerous spins. He returned for just one more race at Estoril (again replacing Alex Zanardi) and despite the handicap of running an old Mugen engine qualified and finished despite suffering with tiring neck muscles.

Phillipe subsequently continued to successfully race in touring cars, taking an International Group N Series, win with a BMW M3 at Magione in Italy in 1997. He also raced GT cars in Endurance events until 2000.