# Jean-Pierre Jabouille

Jean-Pierre Alain Jabouille (1 October 1942 – 2 February 2023) was a French racing driver and engineer, who competed in Formula One from 1974 to 1981. Jabouille won two Formula One Grands Prix across seven seasons.
Jabouille 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 third-place overall finishes in 1973, 1974, 1992, and 1993.

## Early and personal life

Jean-Pierre Alain Jabouille was born on 1 October 1942 in Paris, then occupied by Nazi Germany.

## 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 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 neo 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

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 (a first for Formula One) was fragile and suffered from severe turbo lag, making it difficult to drive on tight circuits. However, Jabouille, who was an engineer by trade persevered and developed the RS01 throughout, recording several notable qualifying positions in 1978, and landed the marque's first points with 4th place at the United States Grand Prix East at Watkins Glen, a circuit particularly tough on fuel consumption- one of the Renault turbo's biggest weaknesses.
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. A suspension failure in the Canadian Grand Prix caused a sizeable accident, which 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 was not fully fit, failing to qualify for two of his four attempts, at which point he decided to retire from Formula One. Subsequently, he stayed with Ligier and became team manager in 1982. In 1984 he transferred to Ligier's joint entry with Curb Racing in the 1984 CART series, as team manager.

### 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 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. Following that, he ran his own sports car team in the ISRS.

## Death

Jabouille died on 2 February 2023 at the age of 80.

## Racing record
### Career summary

| Season | Series | Team | Races | Wins | Poles | F/Laps | Podiums | Points | Position |
| 1968 | European Formula Two | Matra Sports | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | NC |
| 1968 | 24 Hours of Le Mans | Société des Automobiles Alpine | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | NC |
| 1969 | 24 Hours of Le Mans | Société des Automobiles Alpine | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | NC |
| 1970 | European Formula Two | Constructions Mécaniques Pygmée | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 16th |
| 1970 | 24 Hours of Le Mans | Equipe Matra-Simca | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | N/A | DNF |
| 1971 | European Formula Two | Equipe Tecno Elf | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | NC |
| 1972 | European Formula Two | Elf John Coombs | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 14th |
| 1972 | 24 Hours of Le Mans | Équipe Matra-Simca Shell | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | N/A | DNF |
| 1973 | European Formula Two | Elf John Coombs | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 24th |
| 1973 | 24 Hours of Le Mans | Équipe Matra-Simca Shell | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | N/A | 3rd |
| 1974 | European Formula Two | Ecurie Elf | 7 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 20 | 4th |
| 1974 | World Sportscar Championship | Équipe Gitanes | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | NC |
| 1974 | Formula One | Frank Williams Racing Cars | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | NC |
| 1974 | Formula One | Team Surtees | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | NC |
| 1975 | European Formula Two | Ecurie Elf | 13 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 24 | 5th |
| 1975 | World Sportscar Championship | Elf Alpine-Renault | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | NC |
| 1975 | Formula One | Elf Team Tyrrell | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | NC |
| 1976 | European Formula Two | Ecurie Elf | 12 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 6 | 53 | 1st |
| 1976 | World Sportscar Championship | Elf Alpine-Renault | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | NC |
| 1976 | 24 Hours of Le Mans | Renault Sport | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | N/A | DNF |
| 1977 | Formula One | Equipe Renault Elf | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | NC |
| 1977 | 24 Hours of Le Mans | Équipe Renault Elf | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | N/A | DNF |
| 1978 | Formula One | Equipe Renault Elf | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 17th |
| 1978 | 24 Hours of Le Mans | Equipe Renault Elf Sport Calberson | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | N/A | 4th |
| 1978 | 24 Hours of Le Mans | Equipe Renault Elf Sport | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | N/A | DNF |
| 1979 | Formula One | Equipe Renault Elf | 14 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 13th |
| 1980 | Formula One | Equipe Renault Elf | 13 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 8th |
| 1981 | Formula One | Equipe Talbot Gitanes | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | NC |
| 1987 | World Touring Car Championship | Bastos Racing Team | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | NC |
| 1989 | 24 Hours of Le Mans | Team Sauber Mercedes | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | N/A | 5th |
| 1990 | World Sportscar Championship | Peugeot Talbot Sport | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | NC |
| 1991 | 24 Hours of Le Mans | Peugeot Talbot Sport | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | N/A | DNF |
| 1992 | 24 Hours of Le Mans | Peugeot Talbot Sport | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | N/A | 3rd |
| 1993 | 24 Hours of Le Mans | Peugeot Talbot Sport | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | N/A | 3rd |
| Source: ||||||||||

### 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 | 15 | 16 | 17 | Pos. | Pts |
| 1968 | Matra Sports | Matra MS7 | Cosworth FVA | HOC | THR | JAR | PAL | TUL | ZAN | PER | HOC 9 | VAL | | | | | | | | | NC | 0 |
| 1970 | Constructions Mécaniques Pygmée | Pygmée MDB15 | Cosworth FVA | THR DNQ | HOC | BAR 11 | ROU DNQ | PER 8 | TUL | IMO DNQ | HOC DNS | | | | | | | | | | 16th | 2 |
| 1971 | Equipe Tecno Elf | Tecno TF71 | Ford BDA | HOC Ret | THR | NÜR | JAR DNQ | PAL DNQ | ROU DNQ | MAN | TUL | ALB DNQ | VLL | VLL | | | | | | | NC | 0 |
| 1972 | Elf John Coombs | March 722 | Ford BDA | MAL Ret | THR | HOC | | | | | | IMO NC | MAN 2 | PER Ret | | | | | | | 14th | 7 |
| 1972 | Elf John Coombs | Alpine A367 | Ford BDA | | | | PAU DNQ | PAL | HOC | ROU DNS | ÖST Ret | | | | SAL 9 | ALB Ret | HOC 10 | | | | | | 14th | 7 |
| 1973 | Elf John Coombs | Alpine A367 | Ford BDA | MAL | HOC | THR Ret | NÜR Ret | PAU | KIN | NIV | HOC | ROU DNS | MNZ | MAN Ret | KAR | PER Ret | SAL | NOR | ALB 5 | VLL | 24th | 3 |
| 1974 | Ecurie Elf | Alpine A367 | BMW | BAR 3 | HOC | PAU 4 | SAL Ret | HOC 1 | MUG 7 | KAR | PER | HOC 3 | VLL Ret | | | | | | | | 4th | 20 |
| 1975 | Ecurie Elf | Elf 2J | BMW | EST 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 | VLL | | | | 5th | 24 |
| 1976 | Ecurie Elf | Elf 2J | Renault | HOC Ret | THR 14 | VLL 1 | SAL 6 | PAU 3 | HOC 4 | ROU 2 | MUG 1 | PER 4 | EST 2 | NOG Ret | HOC 1 | | | | | | 1st | 53 |
| Source: |||||||||||||||||||||||

### 24 Hours of Le Mans results

| Year | Team | Co-Drivers | Car | Class | Laps | Pos. | Class Pos. |
| 1968 | Société des Automobiles Alpine | Jean Guichet | Alpine A220-Renault-Gordini | P 3.0 | 185 | DNF | DNF |
| 1969 | Société des Automobiles Alpine | Patrick Depailler | Alpine A220/69-Renault-Gordini | P 3.0 | 209 | DNF | DNF |
| 1970 | Equipe Matra-Simca | Patrick Depailler Tim Schenken | Matra-Simca MS650 | P 3.0 | 70 | DNF | DNF |
| 1972 | Équipe Matra-Simca Shell | David Hobbs | Matra-Simca MS660C | S 3.0 | 278 | DNF | DNF |
| 1973 | Équipe Matra-Simca Shell | Jean-Pierre Jaussaud | Matra-Simca MS670B | S 3.0 | 331 | 3rd | 3rd |
| 1974 | Équipe Gitanes | François Migault | Matra-Simca MS670C | S 3.0 | 324 | 3rd | 3rd |
| 1976 | Renault Sport | Patrick Tambay José Dolhem | Renault Alpine A442 | S 3.0 | 135 | DNF | DNF |
| 1977 | Équipe Renault Elf | Derek Bell | Renault Alpine A442 | S +2.0 | 257 | DNF | DNF |
| 1978 | Equipe Renault Elf Sport Calberson | Guy Fréquelin Jean Ragnotti José Dolhem | Renault Alpine A442A | S +2.0 | 358 | 4th | 4th |
| 1978 | Equipe Renault Elf Sport | Patrick Depailler | Renault Alpine A443 | S +2.0 | 279 | DNF | DNF |
| 1989 | Team Sauber Mercedes | Jean-Louis Schlesser Alain Cudini | Sauber C9-Mercedes | C1 | 378 | 5th | 5th |
| 1991 | Peugeot Talbot Sport | Mauro Baldi Philippe Alliot | Peugeot 905 | C1 | 22 | DNF | DNF |
| 1992 | Peugeot Talbot Sport | Mauro Baldi Philippe Alliot | Peugeot 905 Evo 1B | C1 | 345 | 3rd | 3rd |
| 1993 | Peugeot Talbot Sport | Mauro Baldi Philippe Alliot | Peugeot 905 Evo 1B | C1 | 367 | 3rd | 3rd |
| Source: ||||||||

### Complete Formula One results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position)
| 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 DNQ | GBR | GER | | | | | | | NC | 0 |
| 1974 | Team Surtees | Surtees TS16 | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 | | | | | | | | | | | | AUT DNQ | ITA | CAN | USA | | | | NC | 0 |
| 1975 | Elf Team Tyrrell | Tyrrell 007 | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 | ARG | BRA | RSA | ESP | MON | BEL | SWE | NED | FRA 12 | GBR | GER | AUT | ITA | USA | | | | NC | 0 |
| 1977 | Equipe Renault Elf | Renault RS01 | Renault-Gordini EF1 1.5 V6 t | ARG | BRA | RSA | USW | ESP | MON | BEL | SWE | FRA | GBR Ret | GER | AUT | NED Ret | ITA Ret | USA Ret | CAN DNQ | JPN | NC | 0 |
| 1978 | Equipe Renault Elf | Renault RS01 | Renault-Gordini EF1 1.5 V6 t | ARG | BRA | RSA 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 | | 17th | 3 |
| 1979 | Equipe Renault Elf | Renault RS01 | Renault-Gordini EF1 1.5 V6 t | ARG Ret | BRA 10 | RSA Ret | USW DNS | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 13th | 9 |
| 1979 | Equipe Renault Elf | Renault RS10 | Renault-Gordini EF1 1.5 V6 t | | | | | ESP Ret | BEL Ret | MON NC | FRA 1 | GBR Ret | GER Ret | AUT Ret | NED Ret | ITA 14 | CAN Ret | USA Ret | | | | 13th | 9 |
| 1980 | Equipe Renault Elf | Renault RE20 | Renault-Gordini EF1 1.5 V6 t | ARG 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 | | | | 8th | 9 |
| 1981 | Equipe Talbot Gitanes | Ligier JS17 | Matra MS81 3.0 V12 | USW | BRA | ARG DNQ | SMR NC | BEL Ret | MON DNQ | ESP Ret | FRA | GBR | GER | AUT | NED | ITA | CAN | CPL | | | NC | 0 |
| Source: |||||||||||||||||||||||