RETRO: Some of Porsche’s Three Quarter’s Century of Motorsports Accomplishments

Whilst another German legend is currently Asleep at the Wheel…

 

Naturally being a One Man Band, your Humble No Fenders scribe Tomaso simply cannot poond’ out fast enough everythingy’ that occurs in Der Wurld de Motorsprten, Ja-Ja!

 

And although we’ve turned the calendar to March, having just witnessed the conclusion of another 12 Hours of Sebring. Which perhaps I was able to listen to part of during my Heart surgery recovery. Which Y’all are probably getting tired of hearing about, Eh?

 

Thus obviously, I’m still playin’ Ketsup as always here upon Ye mystical Isle ‘O Nofendersville!

 

As I simply didn’t have the time, energy or space to pontificate about some significant events in 2023. Although having waxed-on about it being McLaren’s 60th Anniversary. I failed to note that Porsche’s legendous’ 911 turned 60, along with Lamborghini! Not to overlook that America’s “Sports Car” Corvette turned 70, Crikeys!

 

And whilst I did manage to scribble another short, HaHaHa! No Fenders Three part story about Honda celebrating it’s 75th Anniversary Justin-time last December. I’ve failed to give Porsche credit for also celebrating the same 75th Anniversary last year. For which ironically, both Honda and Porsche; two-thirds the “Axis of Evil” celebrated a year after Ferrari did so.

 

Yet like Ferrari (1939) and Honda, (1937) who both were founded prior to their noted Anniversary’s. Porsche also does likewise, with a most convoluted History.

 

As Dr. Ferdinand Porsche founded the company in 1931, along with Adolf Rosenberger and Anton Piech

 

The company’s first assignment was from the German Government to develop a “People’s Car”, better known as the iconic Volkswagen Beetle, Ja Volt! Before arguably the company’s first automobile, simply known as the Type 64 was manufactured in 1939. Albeit borrowing heavily from the Volkswagen Beetle, for which only three examples were built.

 

Ferdinand designed Tanks during World War II, although losing out upon the contracts to produce His Tiger I concept, before being Imprisoned for twenty months following the War’s end in 1945.

 

Thus during this time, Ferdinand’s son Ferry took over running of Porsche, along with having designed what Porscheaphiles’ denote as the company’s first production vehicle, the legendous’ 356.

 

As the first 356 was road certified in Austria on June 8, 1948. Promptly being entered in a race, where it won it’s class. And hence, Porsche’s 75th Anniversary comes full circle. Even though the 356 was produced by Ferry and sister Louise’s Austrian Porshce Konstruktion GesnbH concern between 1948-50.

 

As the Austrian company would later become known as Porsche Salzburg, which entered the 917 that won Porsche’s first overall 24 Heurs du Mans victory. Subsequently becoming the largest distributor of Porsche Automobiles and ultimately becoming today’s Porsche Holdings…

 

Whilst we All know that Porsche is synonymous with Sports Car racing, for which I’ll tackle in a separate No Fenders yarn shortly. But first, a very brief look at it’s largely overlooked Single Seaters Open Wheel Racing History instead…

 

Arse-sumedly when Y’all hear the words Porsche and formula 1, Yuhs think of those F1 World Championship McLaren TAG-Porsche entries, Righto?

 

Yet it was actually the Porsche 718 model that first competed in Euripean Formula 2 that initially involved Porsche in Single Seater racing. Although reportedly Dr. Ferdinand Porsche had designed Formula 1 machinery for Mercedes and Auto Union during the 1920’s & 1930’s.

 

And although the 718 saw limited success as a Single Seater. It’s RS60 variant greatest successes were winning the 1960 12Hours of Sebring and the Targa Florio.

 

Yet with the FIA mandating maximum engine capacity of 1,500cc for Formula 1 in 1961, the 718 F2 model was instantly eligible for the f1 World championship.

 

Yet Porsche’s 718 F2 model was outdated and outclassed. And thus Stuttgart designed the brand new 804 model for F1 in 1962, featuring a Flat-8 cylinder engine. Which Dan Gurney won His and Porsche’s maiden Formula 1 victory aboard during the ’62 French Grand Prix.

 

Before Porsche withdrew from Formula 1 at season’s end due to it’s high costs and lack of road car relevance. Not returning to thee Pinnicle ‘O Motorsports for another two-plus decades as an engine supplier… 

75 Years of Honda Racing Continued

As the 1980’s to early 1990’s were truly Honda’s glory Days…

 

Soichiro Honda wished for Honda to return to Formula 1, this time as an engine supplier only. Wanting to keep a low profile, Honda selected the Minnowesqe Spirit Racing team, founded by ex-McLaren Designer Gordon Coppuck and John Wickham. With the Slough, Berkshire UK team running a Honda powered entry in the European Formula 2 Championship in 1982 with Stefan Johansson and Thierry Boutsen as drivers.

 

The Spirit 201 F2 chassis was quick, claiming eight Pole positions, with Boutsen scoring three wins and finishing runner-up to Corrado Fabi in the Championship.

 

Honda sent prototype 1.5-litre V-6 twin turbo engines to Spirit for winter testing in ’82. With Spirit modifying it’s 201 F2 chassis for Formula 1, and continued extensive private testing, including running at Willow springs Raceway.

 

Having contested the Non Championship F1 Brands Hatch event, ‘lil Stevie Johnson’ (Johansson) made Spirit Racing’s F1 debut at the 1983 British Grand Prix.

 

The car proved fast but unreliable with engine issues. And even though Johansson finished a best of  seventh at the Dutch Grand Prix. Honda was displeased with the team’s perceived lack of progress. And with Williams courting Honda, the Japanese manufacturer moved it’s supply of engines to Sir Frank’s Team Willy’, and the rest was History.

 

The Williams/Honda package soon became a force to reckon with, despite infighting by the team’s two drivers, Nigel Mansell and Nelson Piquet. With Piquet securing Honda’s first F1 World Championship in 1987.

 

Honda also supplied its engines to rival’s McLaren, joining Williams and Lotus for 1988. As we All know about the rivalry between Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost! With Senna and Prost winning the next four consecutive F1 Drivers and Constructors Championships. With Honda winning six Constructors and five Drivers titles between 1986-91.

 

Honda then withdrew from Formula 1 at the end of the ’92 season, before returning again in 2000 as engine supplier to British American Racing, known as BAR-Honda.

 

The team reached its zenith in 2004, finishing runner-up to Ferrari in that year’s Constructors Championship, including Takuma Sato’s lone F1 podium finish of third at the USGP at Indianapolis.

 

Yet the team was also surrounded in controversy the following year, being disqualified from the San Marino Grand Prix for its cars being under weight and using Fuel as an illegal ballast. Being further banned from the following two Grands Prix.

 

Initially Honda bought a 45% stake in BAR, owned by British American Tobacco in 2004. And then the following year purchased the remaining 55%, once again becoming a F1 Constructor as Honda Racing F1 in ’06.

 

As Jenson Button would score His maiden F1 victory at Hungary, Honda’s third and final Grands Prix W’ as a Constructor, before the team slowly declined, and once again withdrew from Formula 1 at the end of the ’08 F1 season. With the team ultimately being bought out by Ross Brawn and becoming Brawn GP, whom dually won the 2009 F1 Drivers and Constructors Championships!

 

Honda returned to formula 1 in 2015 as a Power Unit (PU) supplier to McLaren, one year after the new PU era began. With both parties hoping to resurrect their former F1 glories…

 

Yet the McLaren Honda relationship suffered under the strain of Honda’s underperforming PU. For which I think everyone knows about that Smarmy Spaniard Frederico Suave’, aka Fernando Alonso publicly Humiliating Honda by calling their Power Unit a GP2 engine! No less than during the 2015 Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka, owned by Honda! Upon Alonso being overtaken easily by a Toro rosso.

 

As the relationship finally fractured, with McLaren jettisoning their Werks’ Honda PU supply at the end of 2017 in favour of customer Renault PU’s for 2018.

 

And although Sauber initially thought they’d secured Honda PU’s for 2018. Ultimately Red Bull’s ‘lil Seester’ Toro Rosso won the supply of Honda Power Units instead. With the Fienza squad ultimately serving as a test bed for HondaPU development, with Red Bull becoming Honda powered the following year.

 

Armed with arguably the second best PU on the F1 Grid, and now most reliable in terms of mechanical failures. Red bull’s Max Verstappen scored Honda’s first Grand Prix victory at the Austrian Grand Prix. Becoming the first of many Honda victories.

 

For 2021, Honda announced it would leave Formula 1 once again at season’s end. For which Honda went out on top thanks to Verstappen’s controversial win at the season finale in Abu Dhabi. Where Maximilian won the F1 Drivers Championship.

 

Yet with Red Bull faced with the prospect of no PU supply and threatening to leave Formula 1. The FIA allowed for an engine development Freeze between 2022-25 with Honda supplying it’s PU’s to be produced by Red Bull newly created Power Train unit instead, (RBPT) for which the 2022 PU were “badges” as. Before now being known as a Honda RBPT.

 

But Honda’s Formula 1 saga doesn’t end there. As they’ve since done another U-Turn and oddly, will provide Factory PU’s to Aston Martin for the new 2026 E-E-E-lectrified’ F1 Power Unit formulae…

 

Interestingly, Honda is denoted as the All-time fifth most successful Formula 1 engine with a total of 89 victories. Which doesn’t include any of Red Bull’s 2022-23 subsequent wins. Claiming a whopping 17 W’s in 2022 and preposterous 21 wins this year!

 

Honda IndyCar Beginnings

In a forever languishing story I’ve intended to scribble her upon No fenders. Engine Developments Limited, a racing engine manufacturer founded by John Judd and Jack Brabham, were commissioned by Honda to build its first IndyCar engine.

 

Following the demise of the European formula 2 Championship in 1984, Engine Developments Limited better known simply as Judd, created the Judd AV engine. A 2.65-litre turbocharged V-8 lump’ producing some 740-850bhp.

 

The Judd AV was produced between 1984-90, with presumably updates being made at least thru 1992? But I’m getting ahead of myself…

 

Naturally the Brabham-Honda engine would make it’s IndyCar debut with Galles Racing driver Geoff Brabham, son of Sir Black Jack during the 1986 season. Apparently making it’s CART/IndyCar debut none other than at Portland International Raceway.

 

As Geoff Brabham would score a best finish of fourth with the Brabham-Honda engine, also known as Honda/Judd at Michigan International Speedway.

 

Galles Racing continued running the Honda/Judd V-8 in 1987, where the Honda/Judd lump’ made its debut in that year’s Indianapolis 500.

 

Brabham would claim three podiums with the Japanese funded engine. Claiming second at Pocono and Road America, along with third in Miami.

 

For 1988Truesports with driver Bobby Rahal became the engines primary customer. Yet the Honda name was dropped in favour of just Judd. For which astute IndyCar Aficionados know that Rahal would give the Judd V-8 it’s lone IndyCar victory at the Pocono 500 that year. As the Honda/Judd engine had become known for its fuel efficiency, but lacked the outright “grunt”, i.e.; superior Horsepower of the dominant Ilmor/Chevrolet.

 

As the Judd V-8 IndyCar engine would continue to compete thru early 1993, but was never a factor for     wins or IndyCar Championships

For the Conclusion of this story, please visit the following No Fenders link below.

 

Honda Racing’s 75yrs Trilogy Conclusion…

The Passenger book review

An ultra rare, 1973 Maserati Bora. Previously part of the Maserati Heritage Collection. (Image source: www.handh.co.uk)

 

As we’re All just passengers for a limited time upon Terra Firma…

 

Ah, the good ‘Ol Sea of Synchronicity constantly soaking thoust mystical Isle ‘O Nofendersville, albeit a few months ago!

 

As five days prior to His Death, I was introduced to the author Cormac McCarthy’s writings, having checked out No country for Old Men (2005) and The Passenger. (2022) With the latter peaking my interest since it supposedly revolved around a former Formula 2 Driver turned Salvage Wreck Diver.

 

And although not necessary, I “read”, Err listened to them on ‘Ol School CD Audiobook in chronological order,. Which the 2007 movie No country for Old Men won Four Oscars; Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor, Best Director and Best Screenplay.

 

As No Country for Old Men is far more Brutal than The Passenger…

 

overall I enjoyed my second Cormac McCarthy novel The Passenger, albeit I found it to be a most Quirky book. And it was somewhat hard to follow the massive character topic swings! For which I could only surmise who the mystery Girl (Alicia) with imaginary visitors was?

 

Or why the main character Robert Western, who His friends All call Him Bobby, is having dinner with a Transgender friend? Or His flirting with women in general when He’s supposedly eternally in love with His Dead Sister. Who I was guessing was the character above? As Alicia is indeed Bobby’s sister. Whilst Bobby’s supposedly is “Off the Market”.

 

Suppose I paid particular Attenzione to the various female characters in both of these novels, since His New York Times Obituary article Criticized McCarthy’s lack of women characters in His work, for which I’m failing to “See” in eitherNo Country for Old Men or The Passenger.

 

But I have to say originally I wasn’t impressed with what I considered to be two major Gaffs relating to motorsports, which presumably only Hard Core racing Aficionados like Mwah would know…

 

As there had only been two references to bobby’s (Western) past as a Formula 2 driver. Beginning with the briefest mention of His being a former F2 driver giving Him the plate in His Head and rod in His leg.

 

Yet upon having finished Disc 3 of 11, one of His Salvage Wreck Diving partners Red asks Him how fast do those Formula 2 cars go? Replying that Formula 1 cars can go 200mph but there’s hardly anywhere for them to go that fast, like the Mulsanne Straight. And the F2 cars don’t have speedometers and one of the problems was Stagger.

 

For which I had these instant reactions too! First of all, the Mulsanne Straight, which is Not “Straight” anymore, due to the necessity of two chicanes being installed to slow the prototype Sports Cars from exceeding 240mph and going Airbourne! Was “Chopped” up a long time ago, early 2000’s Me Thinks? With former F1 driver Mark Webber having survived Summersaulting in a Mercedes prototype Upon it during the 1999 race!

 

As the Mulsanne Straight is part of the legendous’ Circuit de la Sarthe, i.e.; 24 Heurs du Mans.

 

And the 24 Hours of Le Mans is arguably the most famous Sports Car race, with Formula 1 never having competed there!

 

Not to mention that current F1 chassis have routinely been exceeding 200mph for years, which would be easy to deduce? Since the legendary Italian circuit simply known as Monza. Whose moniker is the Temple of Speed! Once held, or still does? The outright All-time top speed of 231mph for a Formula 1 car! Although I think Valtteri Bottas exceeded that at the Mexican Grand Prix? So that’s Strike One!

 

Strike Two is that as far as I know, Nobody in Europe uses the word Stagger to describe tyre circumference. Since Stagger typically relates to tyres that are used for Oval racing, i.e.; Indianapolis 500. Since the tyres are made of different size from inside edge to outter edge to help the racecar turn left with less steering input!

 

Yet in the paragraph prior to the Formula 2 reference, bobby correctly discusses Red’s old Ford Galaxie and correct Ford engine sizes, i.e.; 390 vs. 428cid, (Cubic Inch Displacement) along with CJ Heads, etc. Whilst giving a “shout Out” to a very unknown 1970’s Italian Sports Car, the Maserati Bora. Which I agree with McCarthy is an stunningly beautiful car!

 

Making me recall the one and only time I stupidly tried keeping up with one on the Freeway in Everett (WA) when going to lunch in Mukilteo. As the V-8 Bora simply “Walked Away” from my “Luxury-liner” six cylinder Nissan 280ZX, for which I was simply being stupid about! Simply Disappearing from Mwah before I wisely let off the accelerator!

 

As I realize today in hindsight some 35yrs later, I could have never won that race! Since the Bora  had two more engine cylinders and only one person driving it. Versus my having my good friend Randal, thy No Fenders Moniker King! Ridin’ “shotgun”, (passenger) ergo extra weight along with less horsepower!

 

Not having a clue about the Bora Wayback’ then. Yet Boyz’ do silly things when they’re “Young and Stupid!” But I digress…

 

And although I’m well aware that one cannot know everything! Since I knew that the Bora was rare, since that was my one and only encounter with one. But I’m quite surprised just learning today that only a miniscule 564 units were built for the Bora between 1971-78!

 

Thus leaving me feeling that if McCarthy can do research on a seemingly obscure Italian two seater Sports Car from the 1970’s. then surely He could have done equal research for His Formula 1 and F2 tidbits, Righto?

 

Yes, I realize I’m being overly Nitpicky here. And I enjoyed the book in general, knowing I could never write a novel like this! But I just have to chuckle over how I immediately did what most Hard Core Petrol Headz’ do when having non-mainstream motor racing in a popular novel or movie. And should be pleased that Formula 2 is being mentioned at All…

 

Thus finishing the book, which like I previously noted. I enjoyed very much overall, simply “listening” to the final eight Discs without critiquing it further.

 

Initially, I thought that the portion above were the last few, miniscule tidbits devoted to the main character’s (Bobby Western) past as a Formula 2 driver.

 

Before recalling one more brief mention of His racing a Lotus F2 racecar during the summer and doing so in Paris and France. While Bopping around Europe pulling said racecar in a van and trailer. Going into detail over how colin Chapman was renown for His lightweight designs…

 

After my initial critique above, I subsequently learned that McCarthy had begun working on The Passenger initially during the 1970’s when indeed, the Mulsanne Straight was still “straight”. So perhaps He was trying to portray that it was one of the few public roads where 1970’s Formula 1 cars, which were probably hard pressed of exceeding 200mph could do so on a public road.

 

But if so, then why didn’t the author write His prose in this perspective? Especially since McCarthy obviously did some research upon the esteemed Formula 1 designer and racing guru Chapman!

 

Whilst I still believe that the Europeans’ don’t use the term stagger. Or at least I’ve never heard so in nearly 40yrs of following F1! But I digress…

 

Yet I really enjoyed the struggles of Bobby overall, whose life gets completely turned upside down by “They”, the U.S. government who seize His bank account and 1973 Maserati Bora, which He enjoys taking on spirited romps of 160mph! Having also learned what year it was when surfing the web afterwards.

 

As I found the book to be a great introspection about life. While the book goes everywhere besides solving the initial mystery of the sunken Jet plane He and “Oiler”, another Salvage Diver are paid to investigate.

 

And I mean it goes everywhere! With bobby’s dead sister Alicia’s frequent visits with a “Vaudeville” Dummy who routinely rakes Her over the Coals. As Alicia is Schizophrenic and it took me a little while to deduce who Her character was.

 

Involving both Bobby and Alicia’s issues with their father who helped develop the Atom Bomb! To Einstein, Oppenheimer, Quantum Physics, JFK and rifle muzzle velocities! Plus what Jackie (Jacklyn Kennedy) was really doing on the “Boot” of the Presidential limousine when Her Husband was shot! Along with a Private Detective who formerly was a Fortune Teller in His Family’s circus…

 

While I totally love how much of the story’s written in Southern Charm, set in New Orleans, Knoxville and Warthog, Tennessee, With one of bobby’s best friends calling Him Squire. Along with one portion of the book taking on a Grapes of Wrath melancholy to Mwah…

 

While the Bumfiddle’ Florence librarian Marshall asked me what I thought about it? Before saying He’d heard that the second companion book Stella Maris, that I tried checking out. But had mysteriously disappeared from our library! Since their computer system claimed it was on their shelves, but Marshall and Kevin both couldn’t find it! Claims is even more confusing than The Passenger is!

 

Although I’ve subsequently “read” Stella Maris. Which indeed was even more Quirkier, yet enjoyable…

 

And that’s my 14 pesos worth upon The Passenger novel, which overall I found to be a very enjoyable book! 

LE MANS: Triple Crown Winners, Part 2

Otay Kiddoes’, we’re just getting warmed up, since we’re only at the one third mark…

 

Funny how I just learned when reading Messer Oliver’s bio that He’s known as the second driver to complete the informal “Triple Crown of endurance racing. Meaning obviously I wasn’t the first person to think of this…

 

Jacky Oliver

Birthplace: Chadwell Heath, Essex, England

DOB: August 14, 1942, Age: 81

Wins: Sebring 1969; Le Mans, 1969 and Daytona 1971

 

Keith Jack Oliver cut His motor racing teeth in various Saloons before progressing to formula 3 and then Formula 2. Making His Formula 1 debut at the 1967 German Grand Prix. Winning the F2 class and fifth Overall at the legendous’ Nurburgring driving for Colin Chapman’s Team Lotus concern.

 

Oliver was tabbed to drive for Lotus in Formula 1 after the death of Jimmy clark, before moving to BRM in 1969 upon Jochen Rindt’s arrival at Lotus. As unfortunately the poor reliability of the BRM in two frustrating seasons effectively brought Oliver’s F1 career to a close. Although Oliver would make occasional F1 appearances until 1977 – making a total of 50 Grands Prix starts. Most notably when driving for Shadow in 1973.

 

Olivier’s Sports Car success came while driving for the legendous’ John Wyer, where the “Two Jacky’s”, i.e.; Oliver and Jacky Ickx won the 1969 12 Hours of Sebring and 24 Hours of Le Mans aboard the venerable J.W. Automotive Engineering Ford GT40 Mk I.

 

Between 1970-71, JW Automotive Engineering became the de facto Porsche 917 team, where Oliver and co-driver Pedro Rodriguez won the 1971 24 Heurs du Mans and 1000km Monza Sports Car race.

 

Jacky is the only driver to have won the Can Am Championship on this list of nine drivers. Winning the 1974 title for Don Nichols Shadow racing team aboard the Shadow DN4.

 

Jacky is also credited with being a leading founder of the Arrows Grand Prix team beginning in 1978, before selling the majority of His shares to the Japanese Footwork corporation in 1990. Oliver remained as team Director thru it’s brief use of Porsche V-12’s and other engines before regaining control in 1993, when Footwork pulled it’s financial support of the team. And then again selling His Shares to Tom Walkinshaw in 1996.

 

Hurley Haywood

Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois

DOB: May 4, 1948, Age: 75

Wins: Daytona, (5) 1973, 1975, 1977, 1979, 1991; Sebring, (2) 1973, 1981 and Le Mans, (3) 1977, 1983, 1994

 

What can I say or write about Harris Hurley Haywood that hasn’t already been said? Since Hurley whose long been synonymous with Brumos Porsche and it’s iconic No. 59 racecars. Arguably is one of the greatest All-time Sports Car racers. As I’d say greatest, but there’s one more Yank on this list that may challenge Him, not to mention the late “Peter Perfect”, aka Peter Gregg. Who Hurley partnered for many wins early in His career.

 

And while I had to remind myself that Hurley won the 1988 SCCA Trans Am Championship driving an Audi. What I always forget is that Haywood competed in the 1980 CART/PPG IndyCar World Series driving for Lindsey Hopkins Racing. Including finishing 18th as a rookie in that year’s Indianapolis 500. Reportedly making a total of 18 starts.

 

Won’t even attempt listing All of Hurley’s co-drivers for His amazing haul of these ten endurance race W’s. Other than having won with the likes of Jacky Ixkx Danny Ongais and Al Holbert amongst the many. While my favourites win is His 1981 Sebring victory driving for my Home team of Bayside Racing with Holbert and Bruce Leven.

 

Even more impressive is that Haywood won all of these races driving only Porsches. Beginning with the Carrera RSR, then 935, 936, 956 and lastly 962 variants.

 

I find it interesting how Hurley won His three 24 Heurs du Mans races over three decades, beginning with the 936 Spyder, then the 956 and lastly a Dauer 962 Le Mans entry, a racing version of the Dauer 962 Le Mans road car for which only 13 examples were built.

 

I was also unaware of the fact that Hurley was Drafted by the U.S. Army in 1970, and served His  tour of duty in Vietnam in Saigon. But guessing everybody knows He’s tied for most 24 Hours of Daytona wins with Scott Scooter’ Pruett at five apiece

To continue reading this multi-part story, please visit the following No Fenders link below.

 

LE MANS: Triple Crown Winners, Part 3… 

Les trois French F1 Pilotes remembered

As the Man with the Funny nickname was No Slouch as a Racing Driver!

 

The third and final ex-formula 1 Frenchman I’m remembering is Jean-Pierre Jabouille. For which if memory serves me correctly? Had the nickname of “Jelly-Belly” since many couldn’t pronounce His last name…

 

Uhm, actually believe I’m Cornfuzing Andy “Jelly-Belly” Granatelli with Jabouille, who the English nicknamed Jelly Baby instead, but I digress…

 

According to Grizzled F1 Journo’ Joe Saward, Jabouille had a most interesting career. Beginning with switching from an Art Major to Engineering, and later Engineering His own racing cars. With help from another future Formula 1 driver named Jacques Laffite. And cementing their relationship by becoming Brothers-in-law.

 

Jabouille first became noticed in motor racing during the late 1960’s, culminating with His finishing runner-up to Francois Cevert in the 1968 French formula 3 championship.

 

Jabouille was subsequently hired by Alpine as a Development Driver, racing in Formula 2 and Sports Cars for Matra, before breaking His ties to Alpine in 1975.

 

With backing from French Oil conglomerate ELF, Jean-Pierre constructed His own F2 chassis and finished runner-up that year to Brother-in-law Laffite. Before ultimately winning the European Formula 2 title in 1976.

 

He failed to qualify in His first Formula 1 outings for Iso-Marlboro (Frank Williams Racing Cars) and Surtees. Before finally making His F1 debut at the 1975 French Grand Prix. Driving the second Tyrrell and finishing 12th, ironically one place behind Laffite’s Williams entry.

 

Due to His Engineering prowess, Jabouille was hired by le Reggie’ in 1977 to develop it’s turbocharged Formula 1 car., the first of it’s kind With the Renault RS01 chassis  proving to be quite fickle with it’s revolutionary 1.5-litre V-6 turbo lump’, the first in Formula  1 History. As the turbo engine proved to be quite fragile with reliability, suffer excessive turbo lag, and poor fuel economy!

 

Yet Jabouille persevered and claimed Renault’s first points position, with fourth at the 1978 United States East Grand Prix at Watkins Glen.

 

Next, He  scored the first of His eventual six Pole positions at the 1979 South African Grand Prix. Along with making more History when fittingly winning His and Renault’s first race at their Home race at Le Castellet’s Circuit Paul Ricard! With All of Jabouille’s accomplishments being the first for a turbocharged engine in the sport.

 

For 1980, Jabouille claimed His second and final victory at the Austrian Grand Prix. But steadily being overshadowed by teammate Rene Arnoux, Jabouille had signed with Ligier for 1981 before a devastating accident at that year’s Canadian Grand Prix, resulting in a broken leg.

 

Sitting out the ’81 season’s first two races before failing to qualify in two of His next four attempts, Jabouille decided to retire from F1. Where He was ironically replaced by Patrick Tambay. With Jean-Pierre switching to a manager role instead.

 

For 1984, Jabouille moved from His F1 role to manage Ligier’s planned assault upon IndyCar, and specifically the Indianapolis 500.

 

Ligier teamed with Curb Racing, as in the same Mike Curb of today’s Curb-Agajanian racing, who currently are involved with Andretti Autosport’s Nos. 26 and 98 IndyCar entries.

 

From what little info I can gleam from Ye All knowing Intrawoods’, nee internet. ‘Ol superTex’s Bosom buddy Coogan’, aka Kevin cogan ran the Ligier LC02 Cosworth entry during that year’s Long Beach Grand Prix.

 

But the LC02 IndyCar chassis was reputedly developed from the Ligier JS21 Formula 1 chassis which had less than stellar results, and the Ligier IndyCar project quietly faded away…

 

Jabouille returned to Sports Car racing in the Mid-1980’s and once again, put His Engineering talents to work for Peugeot. Helping to develop Peugeot’s 905 Group C Prototype to become the dominant racecar of the early 1990’s. Winning back-to-back le 24 Heurs du Mans races between 1992-93. Along with winning the Drivers and Teams titles for the 1992 World Sports Car championship.

 

As Jabouille would claim His third and fourth third place finishes at Le Mans those two years, along with the same results for Matra between 1973-74.

 

In 1994, Jabouille succeeded Jean Todt as Head of the Peugeot Formula 1 engine project, which had a miserable season with McLaren that year, along with Jordan the next season. Leading to Jean-Pierre’s being fired in ’95. With Jabouille going onto run His own Sports Car team afterwards…