In formula-1 the works team was indeed also successful, as Ken Tyrrell's Matra International, team which used the Ford Cosworth engine to power Jackie Stewart to runner-up in 1968 and World Champion in 1969.
During the 70'ies, Matra supplied their V12 engine to the french Formula-1 team Ligier - and in 1981, when regulations made formula-1 engines smaller, the V12 was essentially cut in half, and fitted with twin turbochargers - thereby creating a 1.6 liter 90 degree V6 engine capable of some 550HP or more (up to 700HP). However, political and financial conflicts - not least with Peugeot who had taken over Talbot - ment that this MS82-engine never was raced.
The old V12-MS81 engine was however used by Ligier, driven by Jacques Laffite had good results (2. in Spain and 3rd in Monaco), although they did not win the championship.
Several pictures in the gallery are kindly donated by former Le-Mans driver Michael Keyser - check out his nice site, which among many things offers a huge collection of motorsport links.
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Lennart.Sorth@matrasport.dk |