Matra MS80
| Industry | Automotive, Motorsport |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1969 |
| Founder | Gérard Ducarouge, Bernard Boyer |
| Headquarters | Near Paris , France |
| Products | Formula One racing car |
The Matra MS80 represented the fourth Formula One vehicle developed by Equipe Matra Sports, equipped with a Ford Cosworth DFV power unit (3000 cc, approximately ). This model was instrumental in securing Jackie Stewart's victory in the 1969 Formula One World Championship.
History
Conceived by designers Gérard Ducarouge and Bernard Boyer, the MS80 was constructed at Matra's facility near Paris. The final integration, including fitting the Cosworth engine, took place at Ken Tyrrell's workshop in the United Kingdom. A significant modification from its predecessor, the MS10, involved repositioning the fuel tank into side-mounted pods adjacent to the driver’s seat, creating the car’s characteristic 'Coke bottle' silhouette. The front suspension transitioned from a rocker-arm design to outboard springs, while the rear suspension employed a parallel link arrangement.
Aside from Ferrari, the MS80 stands out as the sole Formula One Constructors' Championship-winning car not manufactured in Britain; other foreign constructors such as Renault, Red Bull, and Mercedes have all produced their championship-winning cars within the UK. Moreover, it remains the only French-built vehicle to have delivered a World Drivers' Championship title.
Although Matra was responsible for building the car, it was campaigned by Ken Tyrrell's British private team, making it unique as the only non-factory entry to claim both Constructors' and Drivers' Championships. The MS80 was among the earliest Formula One cars designed with aerodynamic wings to generate downforce, introduced in 1968. After several accidents early in the 1969 season involving high-mounted wings, more robust low-profile wings fixed directly to the chassis were adopted.
Only two MS80 chassis were completed during 1969; a third monocoque remained unfinished until EPAF completed it in 2006.
Aftermath
In a 2006 edition of Motor Sport, Jackie Stewart praised the MS80 as the finest-handling Formula One car he ever piloted.
Complete Formula One World Championship results
(key) (bold denotes pole position; italics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | Entrant | Engine | Tyres | Drivers | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | Points | WCC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Template:F1 | Matra International | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 |
Template:Dunlop | RSA | ESP | MON | NED | FRA | GBR | GER | ITA | CAN | USA | MEX | 661 | 1st | |
| Jackie Stewart | 1 | Ret | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | Ret | Ret | 4 | |||||||
| Jean-Pierre Beltoise | 3 | Ret | 8 | 2 | 12 | 3 | 4 | Ret | 5 |
1 Total includes nine points earned with a Matra MS10 and one point scored using a Matra MS84.