Matra-Simca MS670

Last updated
Matra-Simca MS670
Matra 670C at Silverstone Classic Endurance Car Racing in September 2009.jpg
Category Group 5 Prototype
Constructor Matra
Designer(s) Bernard Boyer
Predecessor Matra-Simca MS660C
Successor Matra-Simca MS680
Technical specifications [1] [2] [3]
Chassis Fibreglass body on aluminium monocoque
Suspension (front)Double wishbones, coil springs over dampers, anti-roll bar.
Suspension (rear) 1972: Wishbones, trailing arms, coils over dampers, anti-roll bar.
1973-1974: twin lower links, single top links, twin trailing arms, coils over dampers, anti-roll bar.
Axle track Front: 1,525 mm (60.0 in)
Rear: 1,500 mm (59.1 in)
Wheelbase 2,558 mm (100.7 in)
Engine Matra MS73, 2,993 cc (182.6 cu in), 60º V12, NA, Longitudinal, mid-mounted.
Transmission 1972: Matra 5-speed Manual.
1973-1974: Porsche 5-speed Manual.
Weight 1972: 700 kg (1,543.2 lb)
1973: 678 kg (1,494.7 lb)
1974: 675 kg (1,488.1 lb)
Fuel Shell
Competition history
Notable entrants Equipe Matra-Simca Shell
Équipe Gitanes
Notable drivers Flag of France.svg Henri Pescarolo
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Graham Hill
Flag of France.svg François Cevert
Flag of New Zealand.svg Howden Ganley
Flag of France.svg Jean-Pierre Jabouille
Flag of France.svg Jean-Pierre Beltoise
Flag of New Zealand.svg Chris Amon
Flag of France.svg Gérard Larrousse
Flag of France.svg Jean-Pierre Jarier
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Jacky Ickx
Debut 1972 24 Hours of Le Mans
RacesWins Poles F/Laps
2015161
Teams' Championships2
Constructors' Championships2

The Matra-Simca MS670 was a Group 5 prototype race car introduced in 1972 for the World Championship for Makes. The MS670 replaced the previous Matra-Simca MS660C. [4]

Contents

Racing history

1972

The MS670 only made one appearance in 1972, the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Matra entered four cars, Jean-Pierre Beltoise/Chris Amon in the older Matra-Simca MS660C, François Cevert/Howden Ganley, Henri Pescarolo/Graham Hill and Jean-Pierre Jabouille/David Hobbs. Hill/Pescarolo won the race by a lap from Cevert/Ganley. Beltoise/Amon retired with engine failure and Jabouille/Hobbs retired with a broken gearbox.

In the World Championship for Makes, Matra had scored twenty points, earning it seventh in the championship.

1973

Francois Cevert in the MS670B sharing with Jean-Pierre Beltoise at the 1973 1000km of Nurburgring. 1973-05-27 Francois Cevert, Matra-Simca 670.jpg
François Cevert in the MS670B sharing with Jean-Pierre Beltoise at the 1973 1000km of Nürburgring.

The first race of the season was the 1973 24 Hours of Daytona and Matra entered one car using the MS670 driven by Cevert/Beltoise/Pescarolo and retired from the race with engine failure. The driver line ups for the 1973 Vallelunga 6 Hours were Cevert/Beltoise and Cevert/Pescarolo/Gérard Larrousse, all drivers using the new Matra-Simca MS670B, Cevert/Pescarolo/Larrousse won and Cevert/Beltoise retired with engine failure. The driver line ups for the next two races, starting with the 1973 1000km of Dijon were Cevert/Beltoise and Pescarolo/Larrousse. Pescarolo/Larrousse won the race and Cevert/Beltoise finished third. The 1000km of Monza saw Pescarolo/Larrousse third and Cevert/Beltoise eleventh. The driver line ups for the 1000 km of Spa were Pescarolo/Amon/Hill and Pescarolo/Larrousse/Amon, Pescarolo/Larrousse/Amon finished third and Pescarolo/Amon/Hill retired with engine failure. The team skipped the Targa Florio but entered the 1000km of Nürburgring with Cevert/Beltoise and Pescarolo/Larrousse driving but both cars retired with engine failure. Matra entered four cars for the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Pescarolo/Larrousse, Cevert/Beltoise, Jabouille/Jean-Pierre Jaussaud and Patrick Depailler/Bob Wollek. Pescarolo/Larrousse won the race, Jabouille/Jaussaud finished third, Cevert/Beltoise retired with an accident caused by a puncture and Depailler/Wollek also retired with a broken oil pump and engine failure. The 1000km of Zeltweg returned to two cars with Pescarolo/Larrousse winning the race from Cevert/Beltoise. In the final race of the 1973 season, the Watkins Glen 6 Hours, Pescarolo/Larrousse won but Cevert/Beltoise retired with broken ignition.

In the World Championship for Makes, Matra had scored one hundred and twenty four points, earning it first-place in the standings.

1974

Jean-Pierre Jarier in the MS670C sharing with Jean-Pierre Beltoise at the 1974 1000km of Nurburgring. Matra Simca 670C - J. P. Jarier 1974-05-19.jpg
Jean-Pierre Jarier in the MS670C sharing with Jean-Pierre Beltoise at the 1974 1000km of Nürburgring.

The first race of the season was the 1000km of Monza and the driver line ups were Pescarolo/Larrousse and Beltoise/Jean-Pierre Jarier but both cars retired with engine failure using the new Matra-Simca MS670C. The driver line ups for the 1000 km of Spa were Jarier/Jacky Ickx and Pescarolo/Larrousse, Jarier/Ickx won the race and Pescarolo/Larrousse retired with a broken head gasket. The 1000km of Nürburgring saw Beltoise/Jarier and Pescarolo/Larrousse driving. Beltoise/Jarier won the race and Pescarolo/Larrousse finished fifth. Pescarolo/Larrousse won the 1000km of Imola and Beltoise/Jarier finished fourth. Matra entered four cars for the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Pescarolo/Larrousse, Jabouille/François Migault, Jaussaud/Wollek/José Dolhem and Beltoise/Jarier in the new Matra-Simca MS680. Pescarolo/Larrousse won the race, Jabouille/Migault finished third, both Jaussaud/Wollek/Dolhem and Beltoise/Jarier retired with engine failure. The 1000km of Zeltweg returned to two cars with Pescarolo/Larrousse winning the race and Beltoise/Jarier finishing third. The team returned to the MS670C for the remainder of the season. Beltoise/Jarier won the Watkins Glen 6 Hours and Pescarolo/Larrousse retired with a broken gear shift lever. In both the 1000km of Le Castellet and 1000km of Brands Hatch Beltoise/Jarier won from Pescarolo/Larrousse. For the final race of the 1974 season, the Kyalami 6 Hours, Pescarolo/Larrousse won from Beltoise/Jarier.

In the World Championship for Makes, Matra had scored one hundred and forty points, earning it first in the championship for the second consecutive season but at the end of the year Matra pulled out of motor racing.

Complete World Championship for Makes results

YearEntrantClassDriversNo.1234567891011PointsWEMCP
1972 Equipe Matra-Simca Shell Group 5 BAI DAY SEB BRH MZA SPA TGA NÜR LMS ORC WGN 207th
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Graham Hill 1
Flag of France.svg Henri Pescarolo 1
Flag of France.svg François Cevert 2
Flag of New Zealand.svg Howden Ganley 2
Flag of France.svg Jean-Pierre Jabouille 55
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg David Hobbs 55
1973 Equipe Matra-Simca Shell Group 5 DAY VAL DIJ MZA SPA TGA NÜR LMS ORC WGN 1241st
Flag of France.svg François Cevert 271 / 153112639216
Flag of France.svg Jean-Pierre Beltoise 27153112639216
Flag of France.svg Henri Pescarolo 271133 / 1747111
Flag of France.svg Gérard Larrousse 113347111
Flag of New Zealand.svg Chris Amon 3 / 17
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Graham Hill 17
Flag of France.svg Jean-Pierre Jabouille 3
Flag of France.svg Jean-Pierre Jaussaud 3
Flag of France.svg Patrick Depailler 46
Flag of France.svg Bob Wollek 46
1974 Équipe Gitanes Group 5 MZA SPA NÜR IMO LMS ORC WGN RIC BRH KYA 1401st
Flag of France.svg Jean-Pierre Beltoise 261431112
Flag of France.svg Jean-Pierre Jarier 2611431112
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Jacky Ickx 1
Flag of France.svg Henri Pescarolo 3925511115221
Flag of France.svg Gérard Larrousse 3925511115221
Flag of France.svg Jean-Pierre Jabouille 3
Flag of France.svg François Migault 3
Flag of France.svg Jean-Pierre Jaussaud 34
Flag of France.svg José Dolhem 34
Flag of France.svg Bob Wollek 34

References

  1. "Matra MS670". www.ultimatecarpage.com. Retrieved 23 December 2016.
  2. "Matra MS670B". www.ultimatecarpage.com. Retrieved 23 December 2016.
  3. "Matra MS670C". www.ultimatecarpage.com. Retrieved 23 December 2016.
  4. "Matra Manufacturing & Services". Archived from the original on 24 December 2016. Retrieved 23 December 2016.