Unbeatable Matra

The 1974 World Endurance Championship was meant to go to the Matra Sport team. Ferrari had withdrawn from the championship at the end of 1973 and the French team only faced Alfa Romeo and Gulf Ford for the outright victory.

The Matra 670C was a beautiful machine with it’s 3l V12 engine, and what a sound it made ! Alfa Romeo won the first race in Monza, where it’s french rival was absent, then Matra entered the championship and won the next 9 races !

Jean-Pierre Jarier and Jean-Pierre Beltoise (picture above) took 4 victories, but the all important win at the 24 Hours of Le Mans went to the sister car of Henri Pescarolo and Gérard Larrousse.

Jacky Ickx joined the French team and partnered Jarier for a one-off at the 1000km of Spa-Francorchamps, and won in front of his home crowd (picture below). In the championship standings, Matra was logically crowned with 140 points, Gulf Racing was second far behind with 81 points.