Henri Pescarolo and Jean-Pierre Beltoise, the standard bearers – With their respective career paths taking in the 24 Hours of Le Mans and Formula One in equal measures during the 1970s, Pescarolo and Beltoise rewrote the history of French motorsport, in which 1972 was a most significant year. This was the year when Pescarolo claimed the first of his three successive Le Mans wins, and when Beltoise defied the rain to triumph for the one and only time at Monaco. The French public holds fond memories of Beltoise, who passed away in 2015, while Pescarolo continues to draw crowds at each of his appearances at a racetrack.

François Cevert, the prince – Like Pescarolo and Beltoise, Cevert’s aura extended far beyond the circle of motorsport fans as he was equally at ease playing the piano in a television studio as he was on a racetrack! In 1971, he became the first Frenchman to win a Formula One Grand Prix since Maurice Trintignant in 1958. His Le Mans history is linked to Matra, the team for which he made all three of his appearances. The highlights of Cevert’s Le Mans career were his pole position and second place in 1972, and clocking the fastest lap in the race a year later. His promising career was tragically cut short on 6 October 1973 when he was killed at Watkins Glen. The very same circuit where he had secured his sole Formula One win two years earlier.

Gérard Larrousse and Jean-Pierre Jaussaud, from Matra to Renault – Larrousse was a brilliant driver on both racetracks and on the road, winning the Tour Auto and the Monte Carlo rally. He triumphed at Le Mans twice with Pescarolo and Matra in 1973 and 1974, and a third time in 1978 as boss of the Renault-Alpine team. At the wheel that year was Jean-Pierre Jaussaud, third in 1974 with Matra. Jaussaud went on to secure a second victory himself in 1980, alongside local manufacture/driver Jean Rondeau.

Jean-Pierre Jabouille, Patrick Depailler, Le Mans and Formula One – Both made a major contribution to two great adventures in French motorsport at Le Mans in the 1970s, with Matra and Renault-Alpine. Jabouille was a keen technician and developed Renault’s turbocharged V6 engine. Although he never made it to the top step of the podium at Le Mans, he went down in history in July 1979 with the first Formula One victory for a turbo engine – on home turf at the French Grand Prix. His speed and technical expertise were later put to good use when he helped develop the Peugeot 905, the car that triumphed at Le Mans in 1993.  Another driver reputed for his fast pace and technical prowess was Patrick Depailler, winner of the Monaco GP in 1978 and the Spanish GP in 1979. He sadly lost his life at Hockenheim on 1 August 1980.

Another French driver to have competed with Matra in the 1970s is Bob Wollek (1943-2001). He raced at Le Mans no fewer than 30 times but never managed to take the 24 Hours crown home. Jean-Pierre Jarier was a Formula One stalwart in the seventies and eighties. José Dolhem finished fourth in the 1978 Le Mans 24 Hours for Renault-Alpine. He perished in a tragic plane crash in 1988. Le Mans native and first ever winner of the ‘Volant ACO’ trophy in 1968, François Migault made numerous outings at Le Mans between 1969 and 2002, achieving three podiums in all (third in 1974, second in 1976 and third in 1981). He passed away after a lengthy illness in 2012.

In our next instalment, read about the top international drivers that helped Matra triumph at the 24 Hours.

 

Catch up on the previous episodes below:

Le Mans, Matra’s seventies playground (1) – 1970-71, biding time

Le Mans, Matra’s seventies playground (2) – 1972-74, a legendary triple triumph

 

Photo (ACO archives): In 1973, Matra’s second Le Mans win was also the first for an all-French crew. Henri Pescarolo (at the wheel) and Gérard Larrousse repeated the feat in 1974.