# Jacques Laffite

Jacques-Henri Laffite (French pronunciation:; born 21 November 1943) is a French former racing driver and broadcaster, who competed in Formula One from 1974 to 1986. Laffite won six Formula One Grands Prix across 13 seasons.
Born and raised in Paris, Laffite trained as a racing driver with the Winfield Racing School at Magny-Cours in 1968. Laffite twice entered the 24 Hours of Le Mans with Ligier before making his Formula One debut at the 1974 German Grand Prix with Frank Williams. Laffite remained at Frank Williams through the 1975 season, scoring his maiden podium at the German Grand Prix and winning the European Formula Two Championship with Martini. He moved to Ligier in 1976, taking several podiums amongst his maiden pole position in Italy. Laffite retained his seat the following season, taking his maiden win at the Swedish Grand Prix. After a winless season in 1978, Ligier constructed the highly-competitive JS11 in response to the ground effect era. Laffite won the opening two rounds of the 1979 season—including a grand slam at the Brazilian Grand Prix—but ultimately finished the championship in fourth after suffering eight retirements. Laffite again finished fourth in the 1980 and 1981 championships, losing out on the latter by six points to Nelson Piquet and taking several wins across both. Laffite failed to finish 11 of 15 Grands Prix in 1982, leaving for Williams at the end of the season. After two winless seasons with Williams, amongst further reliability issues, Laffite returned to Ligier in 1985, scoring several podiums. At the 1986 British Grand Prix, Laffite was seriously injured in a multi-car collision that broke both of his legs. He subsequently retired from Formula One, having achieved six wins, seven pole positions, seven fastest laps and 32 podiums.
Outside of Formula One, Laffite was a race-winner in the World Sportscar Championship with Kauhsen, as well as in the BMW M1 Procar Championship with BMW. He competed in the World Touring Car Championship in 1987 with Alfa Corse, and the Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft from 1990 to 1992. Laffite entered nine editions of the 24 Hours of Le Mans from 1972 to 1996 across multiple classes. Upon retiring from motor racing, Laffite was a presenter for TF1 from 1997 to 2012.

## Early years

Jacques-Henri Laffite was born in Paris on 21 November 1943. He attended the Cours Hattemer, a private school. He was trained as a racing driver in 1968 at Winfield Racing School in France.

## 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.
In 1976 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 was lucky to start after his car hit the wall on the outside of the last turn of the short (1.609 km (1.000 mi)) Calder Park Raceway in qualifying, but his local crew were able to repair it for the race). 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 I4 engine.
Results in the next two seasons were not much better, when he moved back to England, again to race for Williams (11 and 5 points, respectively). Now in his forties, Laffite returned to Ligier in 1985: in that season he was on the podium three times (Great Britain, Germany and Australia), 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, ending his career tied with Graham Hill for the most Grand Prix starts at 176. 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 1988 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.
Laffite made his 2007 FIA GT3 European Championship debut at the 2008 Bucharest City Challenge, driving for AutoGT Racing Team.
In October 2008, at the age of 64, he tested a Renault R27 F1 car at the Paul Ricard circuit.
Laffite has two daughters: Camille and Margot, a sports journalist of Formula One on Canal+. He is also 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
### Career summary

| Season | Series | Team | Races | Wins | Poles | F/Laps | Podiums | Points | Position |
| 1972 | 24 Hours of Le Mans | Automobiles Ligier | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | N/A | DNF |
| 1973 | 24 Hours of Le Mans | Automobiles Ligier | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | N/A | DSQ |
| 1974 | European Formula Two | BP Racing France | 10 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 31 | 3rd |
| 1974 | Formula One | Frank Williams Racing Cars | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | NC |
| 1974 | 24 Hours of Le Mans | Automobiles Ligier | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | N/A | 8th |
| 1975 | European Formula Two | Automobiles Martini | 14 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 7 | 60 | 1st |
| 1975 | Formula One | Frank Williams Racing Cars | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 12th |
| 1975 | World Sportscar Championship | Willi Kauhsen Racing Team | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 60 | NC |
| 1976 | Formula One | Ligier Gitanes | 16 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 20 | 7th |
| 1976 | World Sportscar Championship | Equipe Renault Elf | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 15 | NC |
| 1976 | European Formula Two | Fred Opert Racing | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | NC‡ |
| 1976 | European Formula Two | Willi Kauhsen Racing Team | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | NC‡ |
| 1977 | Formula One | Ligier Gitanes | 17 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 18 | 10th |
| 1977 | European Formula Two | Fred Opert Racing | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | NC |
| 1977 | 24 Hours of Le Mans | Renault Sport | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | N/A | DNF |
| 1978 | Formula One | Ligier Gitanes | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 19 | 8th |
| 1978 | European Formula Two | Maublanc Racing Services | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | NC |
| 1978 | 24 Hours of Le Mans | Grand Touring Cars Inc. | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | N/A | 10th |
| 1979 | Formula One | Équipe Ligier Gitanes | 15 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 36 | 4th |
| 1979 | BMW M1 Procar Championship | BMW Motorsport | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 35 | 7th |
| 1980 | Formula One | Équipe Ligier Gitanes | 14 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 34 | 4th |
| 1980 | BMW M1 Procar Championship | BMW Motorsport | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 37 | 9th |
| 1981 | Formula One | Équipe Talbot Gitanes | 15 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 44 | 4th |
| 1982 | Formula One | Équipe Talbot Gitanes | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 17th |
| 1983 | Formula One | TAG Williams Team | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 11th |
| 1984 | Formula One | Williams Grand Prix Engineering | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 14th |
| 1985 | Formula One | Équipe LigierÉquipe Ligier Gitanes | 15 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 16 | 9th |
| 1986 | Formula One | Équipe Ligier | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 14 | 8th |
| 1987 | World Touring Car Championship | Alfa Corse | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 86 | 17th |
| 1990 | Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft | Bigazzi M Team | 21 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 107 | 7th |
| 1990 | 24 Hours of Le Mans | Joest Porsche Racing | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | N/A | 14th |
| 1991 | Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft | Snobeck S.A. | 21 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 81 | 11th |
| 1992 | Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft | MS Racing | 23 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 43 | 13th |
| 1993 | 24 Hours of Le Mans | Jacadi Racing | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | N/A | DNF |
| 1994 | 24 Hours of Le Mans | Larbre Compétition | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | N/A | DNF |
| 1996 | 24 Hours of Le Mans | Team Bigazzi SRL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | N/A | 11th |
| 2007 | FIA GT3 European Championship | AutoGT Racing | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22nd |
| 2008 | FIA GT3 European Championship | AutoGT Racing | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 29th |
| 2013 | Eurocup Mégane Trophy | Oregon Team | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | NC† |
$^‡$ Graded drivers not eligible for European Formula Two Championship points

### Complete 24 Hours of Le Mans results

| Year | Team | Co-Drivers | Car | Class | Laps | Pos. | Class Pos. |
| 1972 | Automobiles Ligier | Pierre Maublanc | Ligier JS2-Maserati | S 3.0 | 195 | DNF | DNF |
| 1973 | Automobiles Ligier | Guy Ligier | Ligier JS2-Maserati | S 3.0 | 24 | DSQ | DSQ |
| 1974 | Automobiles Ligier | Alain Serpaggi | Ligier JS2-Maserati | S 3.0 | 310 | 8th | 5th |
| 1977 | Renault Sport | Patrick Depailler | Renault Alpine A442 | S +2.0 | 289 | DNF | DNF |
| 1978 | Grand Touring Cars Inc. | Vern Schuppan Sam Posey | Mirage M9-Renault | S +2.0 | 293 | 10th | 5th |
| 1990 | Joest Porsche Racing | Henri Pescarolo Jean-Louis Ricci | Porsche 962C | C1 | 328 | 14th | 14th |
| 1993 | Jacadi Racing | Michel Maisonneuve Christophe Dechavanne | Venturi 500LM-Renault | GT | 210 | DNF | DNF |
| 1994 | Larbre Compétition | Jacques Alméras Jean-Marie Alméras | Porsche 911 Carrera RSR | GT2 | 94 | DNF | DNF |
| 1996 | Team Bigazzi SRL | Steve Soper Marc Duez | McLaren F1 GTR-BMW | GT1 | 318 | 11th | 9th |

### Complete European Formula Two Championship results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | Entrant | Chassis | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | Pos. | Pts |
| 1974 | BP Racing France | March 742 | BMW M12 | BAR Ret | HOC 10 | PAU 2 | SAL 1 | HOC 2 | MUG Ret | KAR 3 | PER 7 | HOC 18 | VLL 3 | | | | | 3rd | 31 |
| 1975 | Automobiles Martini | Martini Mk 16 | BMW M12 | EST 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 | VLL 2 | 1st | 60 |
| 1976 | Fred Opert Racing | Chevron B35 | BMW | HOC | THR | VLL | SAL | PAU 2 | HOC | ROU | MUG | PER | EST | NOG 2 | | | | NC | 0$^‡$ |
| 1976 | Willi Kauhsen Racing Team | March 762 | Hart | | | | | | | | | | | | HOC Ret | | | | NC | 0$^‡$ |
| 1977 | Fred Opert Racing | Chevron B40 | Hart | SIL | THR | HOC 7 | NÜR | VLL | PAU 10 | MUG | ROU | NOG Ret | PER | MIS | EST | DON | | NC | 0 |
| 1978 | Maublanc Racing Services | March 782 | BMW | THR | HOC | NÜR | PAU 11 | MUG | VLL | ROU | DON | NOG Ret | PER | MIS | HOC | | | NC | 0 |
$^‡$ Graded drivers not eligible for European Formula Two Championship points

### Complete Formula One World Championship results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position, races in italics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | Entrant | Chassis | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | WDC | Pts |
| 1974 | Frank Williams Racing Cars | Iso–Marlboro FW | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 | ARG | BRA | RSA | ESP | BEL | MON | SWE | NED | FRA | GBR | GER Ret | AUT NC | ITA Ret | CAN 15 | USA Ret | | | NC | 0 |
| 1975 | Frank Williams Racing Cars | Williams FW02 | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 | ARG Ret | BRA 11 | RSA NC | ESP | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 12th | 6 |
| 1975 | Frank Williams Racing Cars | Williams FW04 | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 | | | | | MON DNQ | BEL Ret | SWE | NED Ret | FRA 11 | GBR Ret | GER 2 | AUT Ret | ITA Ret | USA DNS | | | | | | 12th | 6 |
| 1976 | Ligier Gitanes | Ligier JS5 | Matra MS73 3.0 V12 | BRA 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 | | 7th | 20 |
| 1977 | Ligier Gitanes | Ligier JS7 | Matra MS76 3.0 V12 | ARG 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 | 10th | 18 |
| 1978 | Ligier Gitanes | Ligier JS7 | Matra MS76 3.0 V12 | ARG 16 | BRA 9 | | USW 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 8th | 19 |
| 1978 | Ligier Gitanes | Ligier JS7/9 | Matra MS78 3.0 V12 | | | RSA 5 | | | BEL 5 | | SWE 7 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 8th | 19 |
| 1978 | Ligier Gitanes | Ligier JS9 | Matra MS78 3.0 V12 | | | | | MON Ret | | ESP 3 | | FRA 7 | GBR 10 | GER 3 | AUT 5 | NED 8 | ITA 4 | USA 11 | CAN Ret | | 8th | 19 |
| 1979 | Équipe Ligier Gitanes | Ligier JS11 | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 | ARG 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 | | | 4th | 36 |
| 1980 | Équipe Ligier Gitanes | Ligier JS11/15 | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 | ARG 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 | | | | 4th | 34 |
| 1981 | Équipe Talbot Gitanes | Talbot Ligier JS17 | Matra MS81 3.0 V12 | USW 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 | | | 4th | 44 |
| 1982 | Équipe Talbot Gitanes | Talbot Ligier JS17B | Matra MS81 3.0 V12 | RSA Ret | BRA Ret | USW Ret | SMR | BEL 9 | | DET 6 | CAN Ret | | | | | | | | | | 17th | 5 |
| 1982 | Équipe Talbot Gitanes | Talbot Ligier JS19 | Matra MS81 3.0 V12 | | | | | | MON Ret | | | NED Ret | GBR Ret | FRA 14 | GER Ret | AUT 3 | SUI Ret | ITA Ret | CPL Ret | | 17th | 5 |
| 1983 | TAG Williams Team | Williams FW08C | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 | BRA 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 | | | | 11th | 11 |
| 1983 | TAG Williams Team | Williams FW09 | Honda RA163-E 1.5 V6 t | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | RSA Ret | | | | 11th | 11 |
| 1984 | Williams Grand Prix Engineering | Williams FW09 | Honda RA163E 1.5 V6 t | BRA Ret | RSA Ret | BEL Ret | SMR Ret | FRA 8 | MON 8 | CAN Ret | DET 5 | DAL 4 | | | | | | | | | 14th | 5 |
| 1984 | Williams Grand Prix Engineering | Williams FW09B | Honda RA164E 1.5 V6 t | | | | | | | | | | GBR Ret | GER Ret | AUT Ret | NED Ret | ITA Ret | EUR Ret | POR 14 | | 14th | 5 |
| 1985 | Équipe Ligier | Ligier JS25 | Renault EF4B 1.5 V6 t | BRA 6 | POR Ret | SMR Ret | MON 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 9th | 16 |
| 1985 | Équipe Ligier Gitanes | Ligier JS25 | Renault EF4B 1.5 V6 t | | | | | CAN 8 | DET 12 | FRA Ret | GBR 3 | GER 3 | AUT Ret | NED Ret | ITA Ret | BEL 11 | EUR Ret | RSA | AUS 2 | | 9th | 16 |
| 1986 | Équipe Ligier | Ligier JS27 | Renault EF4B 1.5 V6 t | BRA 3 | ESP Ret | SMR Ret | MON 6 | BEL 5 | CAN 7 | DET 2 | FRA 6 | GBR Ret | GER | HUN | AUT | ITA | POR | MEX | AUS | | 8th | 14 |

### Complete World Touring Car Championship results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | Team | Car | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | DC | Points |
| 1987 | Alfa Corse | Alfa Romeo 75 | MNZ | JAR 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 | BAT | CAL | WEL | FJI | 17th | 86 |
* Overall race position shown. Registered WTCC points paying position may differ.

### Complete Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | Team | Car | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | Pos. | Pts |
| 1990 | Bigazzi M Team | BMW M3 Sport Evo | ZOL 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 | | | 7th | 107 |
| 1991 | Snobeck S.A. | Mercedes 190E 2.5-16 Evo2 | ZOL 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 | 11th | 81 |
| 1992 | MS Racing | Mercedes 190E 2.5-16 Evo2 | ZOL 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 | 13th | 43 |

### Complete Grand Prix Masters results

(key) Races in bold indicate pole position, races in italics indicate fastest lap.
| Year | Team | Chassis | Engine | 1 |
| 2005 | Team GMF | Delta Motorsport GPM | Nicholson McLaren 3.5 V8 | RSA Ret |

## Other results

* 800 km of Dijon: 1st, 1975
* 1000 km of Monza: 1st, 1975
* 1000 km of Nürburgring: 1st, 1975
* 500 km of Monza: 1st, 1988 (class win)
* 500 km of Nürburgring: 1st, 1988 (class win)
* 3 hours of Zhuhai: 1st, 1994