Matra MS9
| Industry | Motorsport |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1968 |
Key people | Ken Tyrrell (team principal), Jackie Stewart (driver) |
| Products | Formula One cars (Matra MS9, MS10) |
The Matra MS9 was a Formula One vehicle fielded by the Matra International squad throughout the 1968 Formula One season. It participated in just a single World Championship race, piloted by Jackie Stewart at the 1968 South African Grand Prix, before being succeeded by the Matra MS10. The car secured a third-place starting position but was forced to retire due to failure of a connecting rod.
Concept
After achieving notable results in Formula 2, Matra aimed to enter Formula One utilizing their proprietary V12 power unit. Nonetheless, team principal Ken Tyrrell persuaded Matra to construct a chassis equipped with the highly competitive Cosworth DFV engine instead. To accelerate the development timeline, an adapted version of the Matra MS7 Formula 2 chassis was modified to accommodate the DFV engine, integrating suspension components derived from Matra's Group 6 sports car program.
Racing history
Originally conceived as a testbed, the MS9 was deployed in competition at the 1968 South African Grand Prix because its successor, the MS10, had not yet been completed. Featuring a light green primer finish, Stewart rapidly acclimated and qualified in third place behind Jim Clark and Graham Hill’s Lotus 49s. The intense heat at Kyalami led to cooling challenges, prompting design adjustments such as a broader nose-cone and installation of a rear-mounted radiator. Stewart briefly held the lead before being passed by Clark and Hill. The MS9’s only race ended prematurely when a connecting rod failure caused engine damage.
Complete Formula One World Championship results
(key) (bold denotes pole position; italics signify fastest lap)
| Year | Entrant | Engine | Tyres | Drivers | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | Points | WCC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Template:F1 | Matra International | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 |
Template:Dunlop | RSA | ESP | MON | BEL | NED | FRA | GBR | GER | ITA | CAN | USA | MEX | 451 | 3rd | |
| Jackie Stewart | Ret |
1 Points accumulated using the Matra MS7 and Matra MS10 cars.