Matra Sports V12 engine | |
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![]() MS9 V12 engine in MS11 F1 car | |
Overview | |
Manufacturer | ![]() |
Designer | Georges Martin |
Production | 1968–1982 |
Layout | |
Displacement | 2993 cc |
Cylinder bore | 79.7 mm |
Piston stroke | 50 mm |
Compression ratio | 11:1 |
Output | |
Power output | 450 bhp (336 kW) at 11,000 rpm |
Torque output | 343 N⋅m (253 lbf⋅ft) at 8,000 rpm |
Dimensions | |
Dry weight | 168 kg (370 lb) |
The Matra Sports V12 engine is a family of automotive internal combustion engines built for Formula One and sports car endurance racing. Versions of the engine won at the 24 Hours of Le Mans three times. [1]
The Matra Sport V12 was designed by engineer Georges Martin, who had earlier designed Simca's Poissy engine. Martin joined Matra at the end of 1966 through the efforts of Philippe Guédon, a former colleague of his at Simca who later became CEO of Matra. Martin was unsure of what he would be working on until Jean-Luc Lagardère, Matra's CEO at the time, explained that Martin would be designing a new Formula One engine with a specific output target of 150 horsepower per litre. [2] [3]
The Matra Sports V12 is a four-stroke, water-cooled all-aluminum 60° double overhead camshaft V12 engine with a seven-main-bearing crankshaft. [4] It produced between 395–520 hp (295–388 kW; 400–527 PS), and 198–253 lb⋅ft (268–343 N⋅m) of torque. [5]
(key) (results in bold indicate pole position; results in italics indicate fastest lap)
The table below summarizes the results obtained by Matra's World Sportscar Championship cars fitted with the Matra Sports V12:
Year | Event | Team | Car | Engine | Power at rpm | Driver | Position | |||||
1968 | 24 Hours of Le Mans | Matra Sports | Matra MS630 | MS9 | 390 at 10,500 | Henri Pescarolo | 2 (withdrawn) | |||||
1972 | 24 Hours of Le Mans | Equipe Matra-Simca Shell | Matra MS670 | MS12 | 435 at 11,000 | Pescarolo-Hill | 1 | |||||
1972 | 24 Hours of Le Mans | Equipe Matra-Simca Shell | Matra MS670 | MS12 | 435 at 11,000 | Cevert-Ganley | 2 | |||||
1973 | 6 Hours of Vallelunga 1 | Equipe Matra-Simca | Matra MS670B | MS12 | 450 at 10,500 [6] | Pescarolo-Larrousse | 1 | |||||
1973 | 1000 km of Digione 1 | Equipe Matra-Simca | Matra MS670B | MS12 | 450 at 10,500 | Pescarolo-Larrousse | 1 | |||||
1973 | 1000 km of Zeltweg 1 | Equipe Matra-Simca | Matra MS670B | MS12 | 450 at 10,500 | Pescarolo-Larrousse | 1 | |||||
1973 | 6 Hours of Watkins Glen 1 | Equipe Matra-Simca | Matra MS670B | MS12 | 450 at 10,500 | Pescarolo-Larrousse | 1 | |||||
1974 | 1000 km of Spa 2 | Equipe Gitanes | Matra MS670C | MS12/73 | 490 at 11,500 [7] | Jarier-Ickx | 1 | |||||
1974 | 1000 km of Nürburgring 2 | Equipe Gitanes | Matra MS670C | MS12/73 | 490 at 11,500 | Jarier-Beltoise | 1 | |||||
1974 | 1000 km of Imola 2 | Equipe Gitanes | Matra MS670B/C | MS12/73 | 490 at 11,500 | Pescarolo-Larrousse | 1 | |||||
1974 | 24 Hours of Le Mans 2 | Equipe Gitanes | Matra MS670B | MS12/73 | 450 at 10,500 | Pescarolo-Larrousse | 1 | |||||
1974 | 1000 km of Zeltweg2 | Equipe Gitanes | Matra MS670B/C | MS12/73 | 490 at 11,500 | Pescarolo-Larrousse | 1 | |||||
1974 | 6 Hours of Watkins Glen2 | Equipe Gitanes | Matra MS670C | MS12/73 | 490 at 11,500 | Jarier-Beltoise | 1 | |||||
1974 | 1000 km of Le Castellet 2 | Equipe Gitanes | Matra MS670C | MS12/73 | 490 at 11,500 | Jarier-Beltoise | 1 | |||||
1974 | 1000 km of Brands Hatch 2 | Equipe Gitanes | Matra MS670C | MS12/73 | 490 at 11,500 | Jarier-Beltoise | 1 | |||||
1974 | 6 Hours of Kyalami 2 | Equipe Gitanes | Matra MS670B/C | MS12/73 | 490 at 11,500 | Pescarolo-Larrousse | 1 | |||||
Note: 1Valid for the 1973 Sports Prototype Championship, at the end of which Matra will be the overall winner 2Valid for the 1974 Sports Prototype Championship, at the end of which Matra will be the overall winner |
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