Matra MS80

Matra MS80

Jackie Stewart driving the MS80
at the 1969 German Grand Prix
Category Formula One
Constructor Matra
Designer(s) Gerard Ducarouge
Bernard Boyer
Predecessor MS10 / MS11
Successor MS84 / MS120
Technical specifications[1]
Chassis Aluminium monocoque
Engine Ford Cosworth DFV 2,993 cc (182.6 cu in) V8 NA mid-engined
Transmission Hewland DG300 5 speed
Weight 540 kg (1,190.5 lb)
Fuel Elf
Tyres Dunlop
Competition history
Notable entrants Matra International
Notable drivers United Kingdom Jackie Stewart
France Jean-Pierre Beltoise
Debut 1969 Spanish Grand Prix
RacesWinsPodiumsPolesF.Laps
105925
Constructors' Championships 1 (1969)
Drivers' Championships 1 (Jackie Stewart, 1969)
n.b. Unless otherwise stated, all data refer to
Formula One World Championship Grands Prix only.

The Matra MS80 was the fourth Formula One car produced by Matra (following the MS9, MS10 and MS11). The Ford Cosworth DFV-powered car (engine 3000 cc, estimated at around 420 bhp (313 kW)) took Jackie Stewart to the Formula One World Championship title in 1969.

The car was built at Matra's Formula One base at Vélizy-Villacoublay in the southwestern suburbs of Paris, designed under the direction of Gérard Ducarouge and Bernard Boyer. Apart from Ferrari cars, the Matra MS80 is the only non-British built car to win the Formula One World Constructors' Championship (the French constructor Renault, the Austrian constructor Red Bull and the German constructor Mercedes built their winning cars in the UK).

Although officially a Matra, it was run by the non-works Matra International team of Ken Tyrrell. The MS80 was one of the first F1 racing cars to be designed with "wings" for downforce to increase high-speed tyre grip. These were originally introduced into F1 in 1968. Due to some serious racing accidents with the flimsy 1969-type high wing constructions early in the racing season, like all 1969 F1 cars the MS80 was altered to use more sturdy lowered wings, directly attached to the car's body, later on.

Only two MS80's were assembled in 1969, a third monocoque was built but remained un-assembled until the EPAF company made it a complete car in 2006. In a 2006 issue of Motor Sport magazine, Jackie Stewart referred to the MS80 as the nicest-handling F1 car he had ever driven.[2]

Gallery
The MS80 being presented at the 2009 Goodwood Festival of Speed 
The F1 Matra MS80 victorious in 1969 

Complete Formula One World Championship results

(key) (results in bold indicate pole position; results in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Entrant Engine Tyres Drivers 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Points WCC
1969 Matra International Ford Cosworth DFV
3.0 V8
D RSA ESP MON NED FRA GBR GER ITA CAN USA MEX 661 1st
Jackie Stewart DNA 1 Ret 1 1 1 2 1 Ret Ret 4
Jean-Pierre Beltoise 3 Ret 8 2 12 3 4 Ret 5

1 Includes 9 points scored using a Matra MS10 and 1 point scored using a Matra MS84.

Matra-Cosworth MS80

Problems playing this file? See media help.

References

  1. "Matra MS80". StatsF1.com. Retrieved 28 January 2015.
  2. Henry, Alan (June 2006). "Jackie Stewart talks to Alan Henry". Motor Sport. Retrieved 28 August 2015.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Matra MS80.
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 10/15/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.