Matra-Simca MS670 explained

Car Name:Matra-Simca MS670
Category:Group 5 Prototype
Constructor:Matra
Designer:Bernard Boyer
Predecessor:Matra-Simca MS660C
Successor:Matra-Simca MS680
Team:Equipe Matra-Simca Shell
Équipe Gitanes
Drivers: Henri Pescarolo
Graham Hill
François Cevert
Howden Ganley
Jean-Pierre Jabouille
Jean-Pierre Beltoise
Chris Amon
Gérard Larrousse
Jean-Pierre Jarier
Jacky Ickx
Technical Ref:[1] [2] [3]
Chassis:Fibreglass body on aluminium monocoque
Front Suspension:Double wishbones, coil springs over dampers, anti-roll bar.
Rear Suspension: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.

Wheelbase:25581NaN1
Track:Front: 15251NaN1
Rear: 15001NaN1
Engine Name:Matra MS73,
Capacity:29931NaN1,
Turbo/Na:NA,
Configuration:60º V12,
Engine Position:Longitudinal, mid-mounted.
Gearbox Name:1972

Matra 5-speed Manual.
1973-1974: Porsche 5-speed Manual.

Weight:1972

7001NaN1
1973: 6781NaN1
1974: 6751NaN1

Fuel:Lucas
Debut:1972 24 Hours of Le Mans
Races:20
Wins:15
Cons Champ:2
Teams Champ:2
Poles:16
Fastest Laps:1

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]

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

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

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

YearEntrantClassDrivers1234567891011Points
1972Equipe Matra-Simca ShellGroup 5BAIDAYSEBBRHMZASPATGANÜRLMSORCWGN207th
Graham Hill1
Henri Pescarolo1
François Cevert2
Howden Ganley2
Jean-Pierre Jabouille55
David Hobbs55
1973Equipe Matra-Simca ShellGroup 5DAYVALDIJMZASPATGANÜRLMSORCWGN124 1st
François Cevert271 / 153112639216
Jean-Pierre Beltoise27153112639216
Henri Pescarolo271133 / 17471 1 1
Gérard Larrousse1133471 1 1
Chris Amon3 / 17
Graham Hill17
Jean-Pierre Jabouille3
Jean-Pierre Jaussaud3
Patrick Depailler46
Bob Wollek46
1974Équipe GitanesGroup 5MZASPANÜRIMOLMSORCWGNRICBRHKYA140 1st
Jean-Pierre Beltoise261431112
Jean-Pierre Jarier2611431112
Jacky Ickx1
Henri Pescarolo3925511115221
Gérard Larrousse3925511115221
Jean-Pierre Jabouille3
François Migault3
Jean-Pierre Jaussaud34
José Dolhem34
Bob Wollek34

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Matra MS670. www.ultimatecarpage.com. 23 December 2016.
  2. Web site: Matra MS670B. www.ultimatecarpage.com. 23 December 2016.
  3. Web site: Matra MS670C. www.ultimatecarpage.com. 23 December 2016.
  4. Web site: Matra Manufacturing & Services.. 23 December 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20161224030040/http://www.matra-ms.com/en/history/competition.html. 24 December 2016. dead.