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Jean-Pierre Jabouille

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Jean-Pierre Jabouille
Jabouille in 1975
Born
Jean-Pierre Alain Jabouille

(1942-10-01)1 October 1942
Died2 February 2023(2023-02-02) (aged 80)
Spouse
Geneviève Cottin
(m. 1974; div. 1997)
Children1
RelativesJacques Laffite (brother-in-law)
Formula One World Championship career
NationalityFrance French
Active years19741975, 19771981
TeamsFrank Williams, Surtees, Tyrrell, Renault, Ligier
Entries55 (49 starts)
Championships0
Wins2
Podiums2
Career points21
Pole positions6
Fastest laps0
First entry1974 French Grand Prix
First win1979 French Grand Prix
Last win1980 Austrian Grand Prix
Last entry1981 Spanish Grand Prix
24 Hours of Le Mans career
Years19681970, 19721974, 19761978, 1989, 19911993
TeamsAlpine, Matra, Renault, Sauber, Peugeot
Best finish3rd (1973, 1974, 1992, 1993)
Class wins0

Jean-Pierre Alain Jabouille (1 October 1942 – 2 February 2023) was a French racing driver and engineer, who competed in Formula One from 1974 to 1981. Jabouille won two Formula One Grands Prix across seven seasons.

Jabouille raced in 55 Formula One Grands Prix, collecting two wins during the first years of Renault's turbocharged programme in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Jabouille also raced the 24 Hours of Le Mans from the late 1960s to the early 1990s, driving for Alpine, Matra, Sauber, and Peugeot and collecting four 3rd overall finishes in 1973, 1974, 1992, and 1993.

Early and personal life

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Jean-Pierre Alain Jabouille was born on 1 October 1942 in Paris, then occupied by Nazi Germany.[1]

Career

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Jabouille's Renault RS01 and helmet on display at the Deutsches Museum
Jabouille in 2012

Jabouille first made his mark in French Formula Three in 1967, and continued in 1968, maintaining the car himself on his way to the runner up spot behind François Cevert. For 1969 he was contracted as a development driver by Alpine, having several disjointed runs in Formula Two and sports cars. In 1973, he co-drove a Matra to 3rd at the Le Mans 24 Hours, and repeated this feat in 1974, when he also won the Formula neo race at Hockenheim, and finished as runner-up in the European 2-litre series for Alpine. He also made his first appearances in Formula One, failing to qualify an Iso–Marlboro at the French Grand Prix, and a Surtees at the Austrian Grand Prix.

1975 saw Jabouille sever his ties with Alpine, and gain Elf backing to make his own Formula Two chassis. He finished runner-up to Jacques Laffite, but finally made his full Grand Prix debut, finishing 12th in a works Tyrrell at the French Grand Prix. For 1976 he concentrated on Formula Two, finally winning the title.

Formula One

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Jabouille was signed up by Formula One team Renault to develop their new 1.5l turbocharged engine for 1977. The RS01 car debuted at the 1977 British Grand Prix, but initially the turbo engine (a first for Formula One) was fragile and suffered from severe turbo lag, making it difficult to drive on tight circuits. However, Jabouille, who was an engineer by trade persevered and developed the RS01 throughout, recording several notable qualifying positions in 1978, and landed the marque's first points with 4th place at the United States Grand Prix East at Watkins Glen, a circuit particularly tough on fuel consumption- one of the Renault turbo's biggest weaknesses.

1979 saw Renault expand to run a second car for René Arnoux. Jabouille secured Renault's first Formula One pole at the South African Grand Prix, and then won their first victory, fittingly at the French Grand Prix, also from pole. This was the first victory for a turbocharged car in Formula One. He took two more poles, at the German and Italian Grands Prix, but poor reliability meant the win was his only score.

In 1980, Jabouille took two more poles and another win at the Austrian Grand Prix. A suspension failure in the Canadian Grand Prix caused a sizeable accident, which left him with a broken leg, just after he had signed with Ligier for 1981. His injuries saw him sit out the first two races of the 1981 season, but it soon became clear he was not fully fit, failing to qualify for two of his four attempts, at which point he decided to retire from Formula One. Subsequently he stayed with Ligier and became team manager in 1982. In 1984 he transferred to Ligier's joint entry with Curb Racing in the 1984 CART series, as team manager.

Sportscars

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Jabouille returned to racing in the mid-1980s, driving in the French Supertouring Championship before joining Peugeot to help develop their sports car programme at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. This culminated in third places for the marque in both the 1992 and 1993 races. In 1994 he succeeded Jean Todt as director of Peugeot Sport, but unsuccessful seasons for Peugeot as engine suppliers in Formula One with McLaren and Jordan saw him sacked in 1995. Following that, he ran his own sports car team in the ISRS.

Death

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Jabouille died on 2 February 2023 at the age of 80.[2]

Racing record

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Career summary

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Season Series Team Races Wins Poles F/Laps Podiums Points Position
1968 European Formula Two Matra Sports 1 0 0 0 0 0 NC
24 Hours of Le Mans Société des Automobiles Alpine 1 0 0 0 0 0 NC
1969 24 Hours of Le Mans Société des Automobiles Alpine 2 0 0 0 0 0 NC
1970 European Formula Two Constructions Mécaniques Pygmée 2 0 0 0 0 2 16th
24 Hours of Le Mans Equipe Matra-Simca 1 0 0 0 0 N/A DNF
1971 European Formula Two Equipe Tecno Elf 1 0 0 0 0 0 NC
1972 European Formula Two Elf John Coombs 8 0 0 0 1 7 14th
24 Hours of Le Mans Équipe Matra-Simca Shell 1 0 0 0 0 N/A DNF
1973 European Formula Two Elf John Coombs 5 0 0 0 0 3 24th
24 Hours of Le Mans Équipe Matra-Simca Shell 1 0 0 0 1 N/A 3rd
1974 European Formula Two Ecurie Elf 7 1 1 3 3 20 4th
World Sportscar Championship Équipe Gitanes 2 0 0 0 1 0 NC
Formula One Frank Williams Racing Cars 0 0 0 0 0 0 NC
Team Surtees 0 0 0 0 0
1975 European Formula Two Ecurie Elf 13 1 1 3 3 24 5th
World Sportscar Championship Elf Alpine-Renault 4 1 2 1 2 0 NC
Formula One Elf Team Tyrrell 1 0 0 0 0 0 NC
1976 European Formula Two Ecurie Elf 12 3 4 1 6 53 1st
World Sportscar Championship Elf Alpine-Renault 4 0 0 0 1 0 NC
24 Hours of Le Mans Renault Sport 1 0 0 0 0 N/A DNF
1977 Formula One Equipe Renault Elf 4 0 0 0 0 0 NC
24 Hours of Le Mans Équipe Renault Elf 1 0 0 0 0 N/A DNF
1978 Formula One Equipe Renault Elf 14 0 0 0 0 3 17th
24 Hours of Le Mans Equipe Renault Elf Sport Calberson 1 0 0 0 0 N/A 4th
Equipe Renault Elf Sport N/A DNF
1979 Formula One Equipe Renault Elf 14 1 4 0 1 9 13th
1980 Formula One Equipe Renault Elf 13 1 2 0 1 9 8th
1981 Formula One Equipe Talbot Gitanes 3 0 0 0 0 0 NC
1987 World Touring Car Championship Bastos Racing Team 1 0 0 0 0 0 NC
1989 24 Hours of Le Mans Team Sauber Mercedes 1 0 0 0 0 N/A 5th
1990 World Sportscar Championship Peugeot Talbot Sport 2 0 0 0 0 0 NC
1991 24 Hours of Le Mans Peugeot Talbot Sport 1 0 1 0 0 N/A DNF
1992 24 Hours of Le Mans Peugeot Talbot Sport 1 0 1 0 1 N/A 3rd
1993 24 Hours of Le Mans Peugeot Talbot Sport 1 0 1 0 1 N/A 3rd
Source:[3]

Complete European Formula Two Championship results

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(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Entrant Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Pos. Pts
1968 Matra Sports Matra MS7 Cosworth FVA HOC THR JAR PAL TUL ZAN PER HOC
9
VAL NC 0
1970 Constructions Mécaniques Pygmée Pygmée MDB15 Cosworth FVA THR
DNQ
HOC BAR
11
ROU
DNQ
PER
8
TUL IMO
DNQ
HOC
DNS
16th 2
1971 Equipe Tecno Elf Tecno TF71 Ford BDA HOC
Ret
THR NÜR JAR
DNQ
PAL
DNQ
ROU
DNQ
MAN TUL ALB
DNQ
VAL VAL NC 0
1972 Elf John Coombs March 722 Ford BDA MAL
Ret
THR HOC IMO
NC
MAN
2
PER
Ret
14th 7
Alpine A367 PAU
DNQ
PAL HOC ROU
DNS
ÖST
Ret
SAL
9
ALB
Ret
HOC
10
1973 Elf John Coombs Alpine A367 Ford BDA MAL HOC THR
Ret
NÜR
Ret
PAU KIN NIV HOC ROU
DNS
MNZ MAN
Ret
KAR PER
Ret
SAL NOR ALB
5
VAL 24th 3
1974 Ecurie Elf Alpine A367 BMW BAR
3
HOC PAU
4
SAL
Ret
HOC
1
MUG
7
KAR PER HOC
3
VAL
Ret
4th 20
1975 Ecurie Elf Elf 2J BMW EST
8
THR
5
HOC
Ret
NÜR
4
PAU
2
HOC
Ret
SAL
1
ROU
Ret
MUG
Ret
PER
Ret
SIL
Ret
ZOL
Ret
NOG
3
VAL 5th 24
1976 Ecurie Elf Elf 2J Renault HOC
Ret
THR
14
VAL
1
SAL
6
PAU
3
HOC
4
ROU
2
MUG
1
PER
4
EST
2
NOG
Ret
HOC
1
1st 53
Source:[3]

24 Hours of Le Mans results

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Year Team Co-Drivers Car Class Laps Pos. Class
Pos.
1968 France Société des Automobiles Alpine France Jean Guichet Alpine A220-Renault-Gordini P
3.0
185 DNF DNF
1969 France Société des Automobiles Alpine France Patrick Depailler Alpine A220/69-Renault-Gordini P
3.0
209 DNF DNF
1970 France Equipe Matra-Simca France Patrick Depailler
Australia Tim Schenken
Matra-Simca MS650 P
3.0
70 DNF DNF
1972 France Équipe Matra-Simca Shell United Kingdom David Hobbs Matra-Simca MS660C S
3.0
278 DNF DNF
1973 France Équipe Matra-Simca Shell France Jean-Pierre Jaussaud Matra-Simca MS670B S
3.0
331 3rd 3rd
1974 France Équipe Gitanes France François Migault Matra-Simca MS670C S
3.0
324 3rd 3rd
1976 France Renault Sport France Patrick Tambay
France José Dolhem
Renault Alpine A442 S
3.0
135 DNF DNF
1977 France Équipe Renault Elf United Kingdom Derek Bell Renault Alpine A442 S
+2.0
257 DNF DNF
1978 France Equipe Renault Elf Sport Calberson France Guy Fréquelin
France Jean Ragnotti
France José Dolhem
Renault Alpine A442A S
+2.0
358 4th 4th
France Equipe Renault Elf Sport France Patrick Depailler Renault Alpine A443 S
+2.0
279 DNF DNF
1989 Germany Team Sauber Mercedes France Jean-Louis Schlesser
France Alain Cudini
Sauber C9-Mercedes C1 378 5th 5th
1991 France Peugeot Talbot Sport Italy Mauro Baldi
France Philippe Alliot
Peugeot 905 C1 22 DNF DNF
1992 France Peugeot Talbot Sport Italy Mauro Baldi
France Philippe Alliot
Peugeot 905 Evo 1B C1 345 3rd 3rd
1993 France Peugeot Talbot Sport Italy Mauro Baldi
France Philippe Alliot
Peugeot 905 Evo 1B C1 367 3rd 3rd
Source:[4]

Complete Formula One results

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(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position)

Year Entrant Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 WDC Pts.
1974 Frank Williams Racing Cars Iso–Marlboro FW Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 ARG BRA RSA ESP BEL MON SWE NED FRA
DNQ
GBR GER NC 0
Team Surtees Surtees TS16 AUT
DNQ
ITA CAN USA
1975 Elf Team Tyrrell Tyrrell 007 Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 ARG BRA RSA ESP MON BEL SWE NED FRA
12
GBR GER AUT ITA USA NC 0
1977 Equipe Renault Elf Renault RS01 Renault-Gordini EF1 1.5 V6 t ARG BRA RSA USW ESP MON BEL SWE FRA GBR
Ret
GER AUT NED
Ret
ITA
Ret
USA
Ret
CAN
DNQ
JPN NC 0
1978 Equipe Renault Elf Renault RS01 Renault-Gordini EF1 1.5 V6 t ARG BRA RSA
Ret
USW
Ret
MON
10
BEL
NC
ESP
13
SWE
Ret
FRA
Ret
GBR
Ret
GER
Ret
AUT
Ret
NED
Ret
ITA
Ret
USA
4
CAN
12
17th 3
1979 Equipe Renault Elf Renault RS01 Renault-Gordini EF1 1.5 V6 t ARG
Ret
BRA
10
RSA
Ret
USW
DNS
13th 9
Renault RS10 ESP
Ret
BEL
Ret
MON
NC
FRA
1
GBR
Ret
GER
Ret
AUT
Ret
NED
Ret
ITA
14
CAN
Ret
USA
Ret
1980 Equipe Renault Elf Renault RE20 Renault-Gordini EF1 1.5 V6 t ARG
Ret
BRA
Ret
RSA
Ret
USW
10
BEL
Ret
MON
Ret
FRA
Ret
GBR
Ret
GER
Ret
AUT
1
NED
Ret
ITA
Ret
CAN
Ret
USA
8th 9
1981 Equipe Talbot Gitanes Ligier JS17 Matra MS81 3.0 V12 USW BRA ARG
DNQ
SMR
NC
BEL
Ret
MON
DNQ
ESP
Ret
FRA GBR GER AUT NED ITA CAN CPL NC 0
Source:[5]

References

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  1. ^ FIA Year Book of Automobile Sport 1976. Patrick Stephens Ltd. white p. 38. ISBN 0-85059-229-1.
  2. ^ Cleeren, Filip (2 February 2023). "Double F1 race winner Jean-Pierre Jabouille dies aged 80". www.motorsport.com. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
  3. ^ a b "Jean-Pierre Jabouille". Motor Sport. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
  4. ^ "Jean-Pierre Jabouille, France". racingsportscars.com. Retrieved 13 September 2017.
  5. ^ Small, Steve (2000). Grand Prix Who's Who (Third ed.). Travel Publishing. p. 307. ISBN 978-1-902007-46-5.
[edit]
Sporting positions
Preceded by European Formula Two
Champion

1976
Succeeded by