Jacques Laffite


Jacques-Henri Laffite is a French former racing driver who competed in Formula One from to. He achieved six Grand Prix wins, all while driving for the Ligier team. From 1997 to 2013, Laffite was a presenter for TF1.

Early years

Jacques-Henri Laffite was born in Paris on 21 November 1943. He attended the Cours Hattemer, a private school.

Formula One career

Laffite debuted in Formula One in 1974 for Frank Williams' Iso–Marlboro team. The following year he raced for the same team, now named Williams, scoring a second place in the German Grand Prix at the Nürburgring.
being demonstrated at the 2008 Goodwood Festival of Speed
chassis at the 1982 Pau Grand Prix
In Laffite moved to the French Ligier team, scoring 20 points and a pole position at the Italian Grand Prix. The next two seasons were transitional, although he managed to win his first Grand Prix at Anderstorp in the 1977 Swedish Grand Prix.
The 1979 season opened with Laffite winning the first two races. He fought for the World Championship title until the last races, but eventually placed only fourth, with 36 points. The following two seasons were similar, with two more fourth places in the Championship and a further three victories. In 1982, however, Laffite finished only 17th in the final classification, with only 5 points scored.
During the early 1980s, Laffite also made three end of season trips to Australia to race in the non-championship Australian Grand Prix. He failed to finish his first race in 1981. He finished second to fellow Frenchman Alain Prost in 1982, and third behind Brazilian Roberto Moreno and Australian John Smith in 1983. In all of his pre-Formula One AGP drives, Laffite drove a Formula Pacific or Formula Mondial Ralt RT4 powered by a 1.6-litre Ford l4 engine.
Results in the next two seasons weren't much better, when he moved back to England, again to race for Williams. Now in his forties, Laffite returned to Ligier in 1985: in that season he was on the podium three times, for a total of 16 points. In 1986 he scored 14 points including two more podium finishes in the first half of the season, but he broke both legs in a crash at the start of the British Grand Prix at Brands Hatch, and thereafter retired from Formula One. The race was stopped and restarted without Laffite, who was thus classified as a non-starter and ended his career tied with Graham Hill for the most Grand Prix starts. He was the most successful driver in Ligier's history, having taken six of their nine wins.
As a result of Laffite's injuries, new safety rules were enforced from the season that stated that in all cars the driver's feet must be behind the front axle line.

Post-Formula One career

Laffite recovered from his injuries and later raced in touring cars, finishing 17th in the inaugural World Touring Car Championship driving an Alfa Romeo 75 for Alfa Corse as well as racing three seasons in the German-based DTM series.
He is now a television commentator for the French network TF1, best known for his reaction to the incident at the 1997 European Grand Prix in which Michael Schumacher collided with Jacques Villeneuve, and Laffite reacted with curse words on live television.
In October 2008, at the age of 64, he tested a Renault R27 F1 car at the Paul Ricard circuit.
Jacques Laffite, golf enthusiast, is a shareholder of Dijon-Bourgogne Golf.
Also deeply attached to the Creuse for Golf Fisheries and nature, he has a property in Creuse near Aubusson

Racing record

Complete 24 Hours of Le Mans results

Complete European Formula Two Championship results

YearEntrantChassisEngine1234567891011121314Pts
BP Racing FranceMarch 742BMW M12BAR
Ret		HOC
10		PAU
2		SAL
1		HOC
2		MUG
Ret		KAR
PER
7		HOC
18		VAL
3		3rd31
Automobiles MartiniMartini Mk 16BMW M12EST
1		THR
1		HOC
Ret		NÜR
1		PAU
1		HOC
1		SAL
NC		ROU
Ret		MUG
Ret		PER
1		SIL
Ret		ZOL
Ret		NOG
Ret		VAL
2		1st60
Fred Opert RacingChevron B35BMWHOCTHRVALSALPAU
2		HOCROUMUGPERESTNOG
2		NC0
Willi Kauhsen Racing TeamMarch 762HartHOC
Ret		NC0
Fred Opert RacingChevron B40HartSILTHRHOC
7		NÜRVALPAU
10		MUGROUNOG
Ret		PERMISESTDONNC0
Maublanc Racing ServicesMarch 782BMWTHRHOCNÜRPAU
11		MUGVALROUDONNOG
Ret		PERMISHOCNC0

Graded drivers not eligible for European Formula Two Championship points

Complete Formula One World Championship results

YearEntrantChassisEngine1234567891011121314151617Pts
1974Frank Williams Racing CarsIso–Marlboro FWFord Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8ARGBRARSAESPBELMONSWENEDFRAGBRGER
Ret		AUT
NC		ITA
Ret		CAN
15		USA
Ret		NC0
1975Frank Williams Racing CarsWilliams FW02Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8ARG
Ret		BRA
11		RSA
NC		ESP12th6
1975Frank Williams Racing CarsWilliams FW04Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8MON
DNQ		BEL
Ret		SWENED
Ret		FRA
11		GBR
Ret		GER
2		AUT
Ret		ITA
Ret		USA
DNS		12th6
1976Ligier GitanesLigier JS5Matra MS73 3.0 V12BRA
Ret		RSA
Ret		USW
4		ESP
12		BEL
3		MON
12		SWE
4		FRA
14		GBR
DSQ		GER
Ret		AUT
2		NED
Ret		ITA
3		CAN
Ret		USA
Ret		JPN
7		7th20
1977Ligier GitanesLigier JS7Matra MS76 3.0 V12ARG
NC		BRA
Ret		RSA
Ret		USW
9		ESP
7		MON
7		BEL
Ret		SWE
1		FRA
8		GBR
6		GER
Ret		AUT
Ret		NED
2		ITA
8		USA
7		CAN
Ret		JPN
5		10th18
1978Ligier GitanesLigier JS7Matra MS76 3.0 V12ARG
16		BRA
9		USW
5		8th19
1978Ligier GitanesLigier JS7/9Matra MS78 3.0 V12RSA
5		BEL
5		SWE
7		8th19
1978Ligier GitanesLigier JS9Matra MS78 3.0 V12MON
Ret		ESP
3		FRA
7		GBR
10		GER
3		AUT
5		NED
8		ITA
4		USA
11		CAN
Ret		8th19
1979Ligier GitanesLigier JS11Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8ARG
1		BRA
1		RSA
Ret		USW
Ret		ESP
Ret		BEL
2		MON
Ret		FRA
8		GBR
Ret		GER
3		AUT
3		NED
3		ITA
Ret		CAN
Ret		USA
Ret		4th36
1980Equipe Ligier GitanesLigier JS11/15Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8ARG
Ret		BRA
Ret		RSA
2		USW
Ret		BEL
11		MON
2		FRA
3		GBR
Ret		GER
1		AUT
4		NED
3		ITA
9		CAN
8		USA
5		4th34
1981Equipe Talbot GitanesLigier JS17Matra MS81 3.0 V12USW
Ret		BRA
6		ARG
Ret		SMR
Ret		BEL
2		MON
3		ESP
2		FRA
Ret		GBR
3		GER
3		AUT
1		NED
Ret		ITA
Ret		CAN
1		CPL
6		4th44
1982Equipe Talbot GitanesLigier JS17BMatra MS81 3.0 V12RSA
Ret		BRA
Ret		USW
Ret		SMRBEL
9		DET
6		CAN
Ret		17th5
1982Equipe Talbot GitanesLigier JS19Matra MS81 3.0 V12MON
Ret		NED
Ret		GBR
Ret		FRA
14		GER
Ret		AUT
3		SUI
Ret		ITA
Ret		CPL
Ret		17th5
1983TAG Williams TeamWilliams FW08CFord Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8BRA
4		USW
4		FRA
6		SMR
7		MON
Ret		BEL
6		DET
5		CAN
Ret		GBR
12		GER
6		AUT
Ret		NED
Ret		ITA
DNQ		EUR
DNQ		11th11
1983TAG Williams TeamWilliams FW09Honda RA163-E 1.5 V6 tRSA
Ret		11th11
1984Williams Grand Prix EngineeringWilliams FW09Honda RA163E 1.5 V6 tBRA
Ret		RSA
Ret		BEL
Ret		SMR
Ret		FRA
8		MON
8		CAN
Ret		DET
5		DAL
4		14th5
1984Williams Grand Prix EngineeringWilliams FW09BHonda RA164E 1.5 V6 tGBR
Ret		GER
Ret		AUT
Ret		NED
Ret		ITA
Ret		EUR
Ret		POR
14		14th5
1985Equipe LigierLigier JS25Renault EF4B 1.5 V6 tBRA
6		POR
Ret		SMR
Ret		MON
6		9th16
1985Equipe Ligier GitanesLigier JS25Renault EF4B 1.5 V6 tCAN
8		DET
12		FRA
Ret		GBR
3		GER
3		AUT
Ret		NED
Ret		ITA
Ret		BEL
11		EUR
Ret		RSAAUS
2		9th16
1986Equipe LigierLigier JS27Renault EF4B 1.5 V6 tBRA
3		ESP
Ret		SMR
Ret		MON
6		BEL
5		CAN
7		DET
2		FRA
6		GBR
Ret		GERHUNAUTITAPORMEXAUS8th14

Complete World Touring Car Championship results

YearTeamCar1234567891011DCPoints
1987Alfa CorseAlfa Romeo 75MNZJAR
Ret		DIJ
ovr:9
cls:5
NUR
ovr:9
cls:7
SPA
ovr:12
cls:9
BNO
ovr:10
cls:8
SIL
ovr:10
cls:8
BATCALWELFJI17th86

* Overall race position shown. Registered WTCC points paying position may differ.

Complete Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft results

YearTeamCar123456789101112131415161718192021222324Pts
1990Bigazzi M TeamBMW M3 Sport EvoZOL
1
6		ZOL
2
4		HOC
1
Ret		HOC
2
DNS		NÜR
1
3		NÜR
2
Ret		AVU
1
4		AVU
2
Ret		MFA
1
7		MFA
2
Ret		WUN
1
14		WUN
2
Ret		NÜR
1
1		NÜR
2
8		NOR
1
8		NOR
2
Ret		DIE
1
18		DIE
2
4		NÜR
1
2		NÜR
2
6		HOC
1
14		HOC
2
5		7th107
1991Snobeck S.A.Mercedes 190E 2.5-16 Evo2ZOL
1
21		ZOL
2
Ret		HOC
1
5		HOC
2
9		NÜR
1
5		NÜR
2
6		AVU
1
15		AVU
2
21		WUN
1
4		WUN
2
5		NOR
1
13		NOR
2
8		DIE
1
3		DIE
2
Ret		NÜR
1
3		NÜR
2
3		ALE
1
DNS		ALE
2
DNS		HOC
1
12		HOC
2
12		BRN
1
13		BRN
2
Ret		DON
1
5		DON
2
7		11th81
1992MS RacingMercedes 190E 2.5-16 Evo2ZOL
1
9		ZOL
2
14		NÜR
1
18		NÜR
2
10		WUN
1
8		WUN
2
6		AVU
1
9		AVU
2
4		HOC
1
7		HOC
2
6		NÜR
1
11		NÜR
2
9		NOR
1
11		NOR
2
11		BRN
1
Ret		BRN
2
13		DIE
1
18		DIE
2
8		ALE
1
10		ALE
2
8		NÜR
1
Ret		NÜR
2
Ret		HOC
1
Ret		HOC
2
DNS		13th43

Other results