Jean-Pierre Jabouille

Jean-Pierre Jabouille (Paris, October 1st 1942) is a racing driver of French. From 1975 to 1981, it took part at 54 Grands Prix of Formule 1 during which it recorded 2 victories and 2 podiums for 21 points with the championship. It also took down 6 pole-positions.

Biography

With a diploma for the occupation of chief engineer, Jean-Pierre Jabouille carries out his beginnings in automobile sport in 1967, in the championship of France of Formule 3. Vice-champion in 1968 behind François Cevert, it is recruited by the Alpine firm, which makes its pilot of development of it. The following years, Jabouille carries out face a program in Endurance (with Matra) and the single-seater, with Alpine, then engaged as a motor mechanic in the championship of Europe of Formule 2.

In 1974, Jabouille obtains its first chance in Formule 1. But with the GP of France, he does not manage to qualify the Iso Frank Williams. He does not have more success a few weeks later with the GP of Austria on Surtees. It is finally the following year, which it takes share with its first GP, in France, on a third car of the team Tyrrell.

In 1976, Jabouille gains the championship of Europe of Formula 2 while it is charged in parallel to undertake the development of the turbo engine 1500 cm with which Renault is on the point of revolutionizing Formula 1. The Renault F1 turbo carries out its beginnings in championship of the world at the time of the GP of Great Britain 1977, and attracts itself quickly the nickname of Yellow tea pot (the yellow teapot) for its propensity to finish its races in a white cloud of smoke. Initially, it is especially in qualifications that Renault posts its potential, and Jabouille must await the end of the season 1978 to put an end to an impressive series of abandonments and to mark its first points, thanks to a fourth place acquired with the GP of the United States.

In 1979, Renault confirms its beautiful potential, but again, must wipe in race of the troubles with repetition. It is only with the GP from France to Dijon that Jabouille knows finally a race without problem, which it makes profitable to gain its first victory and to offer to the motorization turbo sound very first success in F1. But this historical victory is partly occulted by the duel that are delivered its fellow-member Rene Arnoux and Gilles Villeneuve for the second place. The victory of Jabouille to Dijon remains its only result of the season. The same diagram reproduces in 1980, where it takes down a new success (in Austria) in the middle of an ocean of abandonments. Most painful of them with place at the end of the season in Canada, where a rupture of suspension sends it in a wall, and leaves it with the broken legs.

Before even its serious wound, Jabouille knew that it would be replaced at Renault by the great hope Alain Prost, and had signed at Ligier. In spite of the doubts about the capacities of Jabouille to return to the more high level, Ligier preserves its confidence in the French pilot, who carries out his return to the competition at the time of the GP of Argentina 1981. But quickly, it proves that the fair Grand did not find all its physical capacities, and at semi-season, it puts a term at its career in Formula 1, qu ' he completes with one of the oddest prize lists: only three arrivals in the points, but two victories.

After being remained a time within the Ligier stable in the capacity as chief technical officer, Jabouille takes again his career of pilot in the championship of France of supertourism. Bound to Peugeot, it is chosen by Jean Todt to be the basic man of the program Peugeot 905 as from 1990. In June 1993, after a podium with the 24 hours of Mans, it is indicated to replace Jean Todt (in departure at Ferrari) with the head of Peugeot Sport. It is in particular charged to prepare the arrival of the manufacturer sochalien Formulates 1 of them. But two years later, and after mitigated beginnings of Peugeot in the discipline queen (rupture with McLaren, not very convincing partnership with Jordan), it is replaced.

Victories in F1

Grand Prix of France 1979
Grand Prix of Austria 1980

External bonds

Jean-Pierre Jabouille on Memory of the Stands

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