Beltoise seconds Stewart

Jean-Pierre Beltoise (1937-2015) was a good endurance and Formula One driver, who raced for the Matra, Tyrrell and BRM teams. The Frenchman competed in 88 Formula One Grand Prix, achieving a single victory, at the 1972 Monaco Grand Prix driving a BRM, and a total of eight podium finishes.

He is seen here (picture above) at the 1969 Monaco Grand Prix in his Matra, where he qualified a fine third, but had to retire (like his team mate) in the race, after 20 laps with a broken engine.

In 1969 he was indeed placed by Matra in Ken Tyrrell’s Matra-Cosworth team, alongside Scot Jackie Stewart, while the works V12 engine was developed for the 1970 season. He was no match for the great Stewart who, with 6 Grand Prix victories, went on to claim the first of his three World Titles.

Nevertheless, Beltoise had three podium finishes in 1969, with a fine second place as best result in the French Grand Prix at Charade (picture below), after a race long battle (that he won) with Ickx’s Brabham, but behind… Stewart.