Matra MS5
| Company type | Racing car |
|---|---|
| Industry | Motorsport |
| Predecessor | Matra MS1 |
| Founded | 1965 |
| Products | Formula Two and Formula Three racing cars |
The Matra MS5 is a racing vehicle designed for Formula Two and Formula Three competitions by Matra. It participated in Formula Two World Championship Grands Prix during the 1966 and 1967 seasons and was actively raced from 1965 through 1969.
Serving as Matra's concluding Formula 3 design, the MS5 evolved from the MS1 prototype. An initial batch of five cars was produced in 1965, with further units manufactured later on; some of these continued competing until 1969.
Matra concentrated on French domestic events. In 1965, Jean-Pierre Beltoise claimed the French Formula 3 Championship behind the wheel of an MS5. The following year, Beltoise triumphed in Monaco’s esteemed Formula 3 race. The factory team achieved dominance in the Argentine championship during 1967, with Henri Pescarolo and Jean-Pierre Jabouille securing victories at significant circuits including Monaco and Rouen. After that campaign, the factory squad was dissolved, and the cars were sold to private French racers.
In a calculated collaboration, Matra’s managing director Jean-Luc Lagardère joined forces with Ken Tyrrell in 1965 to enter Formula Two competition. Tyrrell was provided with an MS5 powered by a BRM engine for testing purposes, and from 1966 onwards, competed under the Matra International banner using the modified MS6 model tailored to meet Formula Two specifications.
The MS5 made its World Championship debut at the 1966 German Grand Prix, piloted by Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. During the race, it was involved in a collision with John Taylor’s Brabham BT11.
Formula One World Championship results
(key) (bold denotes pole position; italics signifies fastest lap)
| Year | Entrant | Engine | Tyres | Drivers | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | Points | WCC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Template:F1 | Matra Sports | Ford Cosworth SCA 1.0 L4 | Template:Dunlop | MON | BEL | FRA | GBR | NED | GER | ITA | USA | MEX | - | - | |||
| Jean-Pierre Beltoise | 8 | ||||||||||||||||
| Jo Schlesser | 10 | ||||||||||||||||
| Tyrrell Racing Organisation | Jacky Ickx | Ret | |||||||||||||||
| BRM P80 1.0 L4 | Hubert Hahne | 9 | |||||||||||||||
| Template:F1 | Matra Sports | Ford Cosworth FVA 1.6 L4 | Template:Dunlop | RSA | MON | NED | BEL | FRA | GBR | GER | CAN | ITA | USA | MEX | 0 | NC | |
| Jean-Pierre Beltoise | DNQ | ||||||||||||||||
| Johnny Servoz-Gavin | Ret | ||||||||||||||||
| Tyrrell Racing Organisation | Jacky Ickx | Ret | - | - | |||||||||||||
| Ecurie Ford-France | Jo Schlesser | Ret |
Non-Championship Formula One results
(key)
| Year | Team | Engine | Tyres | Drivers | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1967 Formula One season | Matra Sports | Ford Motor Company Cosworth FVA 1.6 L4 | 1967 Race of Champions (ROC) | 1967 Spring Cup (SPC) | 1967 BRDC International Trophy (INT) | 1967 Syracuse Grand Prix (SYR) | 1967 International Gold Cup (OUL) | 1967 Spanish Grand Prix (ESP) | ||
| Jean-Pierre Beltoise | Retired | 5th | ||||||||
| Jacky Ickx | Retired | |||||||||
| Henri Pescarolo | 8th | |||||||||
| Johnny Servoz-Gavin | 4th | |||||||||
| Ecurie Ford-France | Jo Schlesser | Did Not Start | 4th | 5th | ||||||
| Tyrrell Racing | Jacky Ickx | Retired | -}
References |