Equipe Matra Sports
 |
|
| Base | Vélizy-Villacoublay, Paris, France |
|---|---|
| Team principal(s) | Jean-Luc Lagardère |
| Founder(s) |
Jean-Luc Lagardère Marcel Chassagny |
| Noted staff |
Gérard Ducarouge Ken Tyrrell Bernard Boyer |
| Noted drivers |
 Johnny Servoz-Gavin Henri Pescarolo Jackie Stewart Jean-Pierre Beltoise Chris Amon
|
| Formula One World Championship career | |
| First entry | 1967 Monaco Grand Prix |
| Races entered | 61 |
| Constructors' Championships |
1 (1969) |
| Drivers' Championships |
1 (1969) |
| Race victories | 9 |
| Pole positions | 4 |
| Fastest laps | 12 |
| Final entry | 1972 United States Grand Prix |
Matra Company's sports division under the name of Matra Sports, Equipe Matra Elf and Equipe Matra Sports (after a takeover by Simca in 1969 as Matra-Simca Division Automobile) was formed in 1965 and based at Champagne-sur-Seine (1965–1967), Romorantin-Lanthenay (1967–1969) and Vélizy-Villacoublay (1969–1979). In 1979 the sports division was taken over by Peugeot and renamed as Automobiles Talbot.
In the mid-1960s, Matra enjoyed considerable success in Formula 3 and F2 racing, particularly with the MS5 monocoque-based car, winning the French and European championships. In 1967, Jacky Ickx surprised the F1 establishment by posting the third-fastest qualifying time of 8:14" at the German Nürburgring in his 1600cc Matra MS7 F2, which was allowed to enter alongside the 3000cc F1 cars. In the race, he failed to finish due to a broken suspension.
Matra entered Formula One in 1968 when Jackie Stewart was a serious contender, winning several Grands Prix in the Tyrrell-run Matra MS10 which competed alongside the works team.
The F1 team was established at Vélizy-Villacoublay in the southwestern suburbs of Paris, France. The car's most innovative feature was the use of aviation-inspired structural fuel tanks. These allowed the chassis to be around 15 kg (33 lb) lighter, while still being stronger than its competitors. The FIA considered the technology to be unsafe and decided to ban it for 1970.
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