Before Henri Pescarolo eventually triumphed at Le Mans with Graham Hill (1972) and then Gérard Larrousse (1973 and ’74), three former winners had been brought in by Matra in unsuccessful attempts to win the legendary race.

Ferrari’s 1964 victors, Frenchman Jean Guichet and Sicilian Nino Vaccarella, were reunited by Matra in 1969. It was in fact Guichet who expressly asked Matra to be partnered by Vaccarella. The duo finished in fifth place.

The third former Le Mans winner who appeared in Matra colours is the New Zealander Chris Amon. In 1966, he had teamed up with his fellow countryman Bruce McLaren to claim the first of Ford’s four successive victories in the 24 Hours. Amon subsequently made two appearances for Ferrari (1967 and ’69), before signing up to Matra. He joined forces with Jean-Pierre Beltoise for the 1971 and ’72 races, but they unfortunately retired on both occasions. Incidentally, Amon also drove for Matra in the Formula One world championship at the same time.

Apart from Graham Hill, crowned in 1962 and 1968, Jack Brabham is the other Formula One world champion (1959, ’60 and ’66) to have driven a Matra at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. He teamed up with François Cevert in 1970 – his third and final appearance at the Circuit de la Sarthe. Engine failure put them out of the running in the seventh hour, but a few weeks later, Brabham was partnered by the young Frenchman once again when he triumphed in the Paris 1000 km – his final international success before retiring from the sport.

The Brabham name features prominently in the history of Le Mans. Jack won the 1967 French Grand Prix (the only one ever run on the Bugatti circuit) in a car bearing the Brabham name. Geoff and David, two of Jack Brabham’s sons, added the famous name to the roll of honour of winners of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, both with Peugeot, in 1993 and 2009 respectively.

Matra’s three Le Mans triumphs have now been adapted into a graphic novel, published by Glénat BD (due for release on 31 May 2017), while the 24 Hours Museum is hosting an exhibition devoted to the 1967 French Grand Prix until 31 August 2017.

 

Catch up on the previous instalments in our special Matra series 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

Le Mans, Matra’s seventies playground (3) – A new generation of French drivers

 

Photo (ACO archives): Pictured here at the wheel in 1972, François Cevert had a prestigious teammate for Matra two years earlier: Australian Jack Brabham, three-time Formula One world champion and the only one to have won the title with a car bearing his own name (in 1966).