Jean-Pierre Jabouille


Jean-Pierre Alain Jabouille is a French former racing driver. He raced in 55 Formula One Grands Prix, collecting two wins during the first years of Renault's turbocharged programme in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Jabouille also raced the 24 Hours of Le Mans from the late 1960s to the early 1990s, driving for Alpine, Matra, Sauber and Peugeot and collecting four 3rd overall finishes in 1973, 1974, 1992 and 1993. Jabouille was one of the last of a breed of Formula One drivers who were also engineers.

Career

Jabouille first made his mark in French Formula Three in 1967, and continued in 1968, maintaining the car himself on his way to the runner's up spot behind François Cevert. For 1969 he was contracted as a development driver by Alpine, having several disjointed runs in Formula Two and sports cars. In 1973 he co-drove a Matra to 3rd at the Le Mans 24 Hours, and repeated this feat in 1974, when he also won the Formula Two race at Hockenheim, and finished as runner-up in the European 2-litre series for Alpine. He also made his first appearances in Formula One, failing to qualify an Iso–Marlboro at the French Grand Prix, and a Surtees at the Austrian Grand Prix.
1975 saw Jabouille sever his ties with Alpine, and gain Elf backing to make his own Formula Two chassis. He finished runner-up to Jacques Laffite, but finally made his full Grand Prix debut, finishing 12th in a works Tyrrell at the French Grand Prix. For 1976 he concentrated on Formula Two, finally winning the title.

Formula One with Renault

Jabouille was signed up by Formula One team Renault to develop their new 1.5l turbocharged engine for 1977. The RS01 car debuted at the 1977 British Grand Prix, but initially the turbo engine was fragile and suffered from severe turbo lag, making it difficult to drive on tight circuits. However, Jabouille persevered, recording several notable qualifying positions in 1978, and landed the marque's first points with 4th place at the United States Grand Prix East.
1979 saw Renault expand to run a second car for René Arnoux. Jabouille secured Renault's first Formula One pole at the South African Grand Prix, and then won their first victory, fittingly at the French Grand Prix, also from pole. This was the first victory for a turbocharged car in Formula One. He took two more poles, at the German and Italian Grands Prix, but poor reliability meant the win was his only score.
In 1980 Jabouille took two more poles, and another win at the Austrian Grand Prix. However, a suspension failure in the Canadian Grand Prix left him with a broken leg, just after he had signed with Ligier for 1981.
His injuries saw him sit out the first two races of the 1981 season, but it soon became clear he wasn't fully fit, failing to qualify for two of his four attempts, at which point he decided to retire from Formula One, and he then became manager of the Ligier/Talbot team in 1982.

Sportscars

Jabouille returned to racing in the mid-1980s, driving in the French Supertouring Championship before joining Peugeot to help develop their sports car programme at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. This culminated in third place places for the marque in both the 1992 and 1993 races. In 1994 he succeeded Jean Todt as director of Peugeot Sport, but unsuccessful seasons for Peugeot as engine suppliers in Formula One with McLaren and Jordan saw him sacked in 1995. Since then he has run his own sports car team in the ISRS.

Racing record

Complete European Formula Two Championship results

YearEntrantChassisEngine1234567891011121314151617Pts
Matra SportsMatra MS7Cosworth FVAHOCTHRJARPALTULZANPERHOC
9		VALNC0
Constructions Mécaniques PygméePygmée MDB15Cosworth FVATHR
DNQ		HOCBAR
11		ROU
PER
TULIMO
DNQ		HOC
DNS		16th2
Equipe Tecno ElfTecno TF71Ford BDAHOC
Ret		THRNÜRJAR
DNQ		PAL
DNQ		ROU
MANTULALB
DNQ		VALVALNC0
Elf John CoombsMarch 722Ford BDAMAL
Ret		THRHOCIMO
NC		MAN
2		PER
Ret		14th7
Elf John CoombsAlpine A367Ford BDAPAU
PALHOCROU
DNS		ÖST
Ret		SAL
9		ALB
Ret		HOC
14th7
Elf John CoombsAlpine A367Ford BDAMALHOCTHR
Ret		NÜR
Ret		PAUKINNIVHOCROU
DNS		MNZMAN
Ret		KARPER
Ret		SALNORALB
VAL24th3
Ecurie ElfAlpine A367BMWBAR
3		HOCPAU
4		SAL
Ret		HOC
1		MUG
7		KARPERHOC
3		VAL
Ret		4th20
Ecurie ElfElf 2JBMWEST
8		THR
5		HOC
Ret		NÜR
4		PAU
2		HOC
Ret		SAL
1		ROU
Ret		MUG
Ret		PER
Ret		SIL
Ret		ZOL
Ret		NOG
3		VAL5th24
Ecurie ElfElf 2JRenaultHOC
Ret		THR
14		VAL
1		SAL
6		PAU
HOC
ROU
2		MUG
1		PER
4		EST
2		NOG
Ret		HOC
1		1st53

24 Hours of Le Mans results

Complete Formula One results

YearEntrantChassisEngine1234567891011121314151617WDCPts.
1974Frank Williams Racing CarsIso–Marlboro FWFord Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8ARGBRARSAESPBELMONSWENEDFRA
DNQ		GBRGERNC0
1974Team SurteesSurtees TS16Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8AUT
DNQ		ITACANUSANC0
1975Elf Team TyrrellTyrrell 007Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8ARGBRARSAESPMONBELSWENEDFRA
12		GBRGERAUTITAUSANC0
1977Equipe Renault ElfRenault RS01Renault-Gordini EF1 1.5 V6tARGBRARSAUSWESPMONBELSWEFRAGBR
Ret		GERAUTNED
Ret		ITA
Ret		USA
Ret		CAN
DNQ		JPNNC0
1978Equipe Renault ElfRenault RS01Renault-Gordini EF1 1.5 V6tARGBRARSA
Ret		USW
Ret		MON
10		BEL
NC		ESP
13		SWE
Ret		FRA
Ret		GBR
Ret		GER
Ret		AUT
Ret		NED
Ret		ITA
Ret		USA
4		CAN
12		17th3
1979Equipe Renault ElfRenault RS01Renault-Gordini EF1 1.5 V6tARG
Ret		BRA
10		RSA
Ret		USW
DNS		13th9
1979Equipe Renault ElfRenault RS10Renault-Gordini EF1 1.5 V6tESP
Ret		BEL
Ret		MON
NC		FRA
1		GBR
Ret		GER
Ret		AUT
Ret		NED
Ret		ITA
14		CAN
Ret		USA
Ret		13th9
1980Equipe Renault ElfRenault RE20Renault-Gordini EF1 1.5 V6tARG
Ret		BRA
Ret		RSA
Ret		USW
10		BEL
Ret		MON
Ret		FRA
Ret		GBR
Ret		GER
Ret		AUT
1		NED
Ret		ITA
Ret		CAN
Ret		USA
8th9
1981Equipe Talbot GitanesLigier JS17Matra MS81 3.0 V12USWBRAARG
DNQ		SMR
NC		BEL
Ret		MON
DNQ		ESP
Ret		FRAGBRGERAUTNEDITACANCPLNC0