Matra

Born of the aeronautics and defence industries, Matra entered the automobile world in 1964 by taking over René Bonnet's operations, with a stated ambition: to carry French colours to the top of motorsport. After winning the 1969 Formula 1 world title as a chassis constructor with Jackie Stewart and Tyrrell, the firm threw all its strength into endurance racing with a single, openly declared objective: winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The weapon was called the MS670, and its V12 remains to this day one of the most spellbinding sounds ever heard at La Sarthe. In 1972, Henri Pescarolo and Graham Hill gave Matra-Simca its first victory. For the Briton it was a historic accomplishment: Hill became the first driver to complete the "Triple Crown" — the Monaco Grand Prix, the Indianapolis 500 and the 24 Hours of Le Mans — a feat no one has matched since. Matra did not stop there. In 1973, Pescarolo and Gérard Larrousse won with the MS670B, then did it again in 1974 with the MS670C entered by Équipe Gitanes. Three consecutive victories, three for Pescarolo, who became France's endurance racing icon, plus world sports car championship titles in 1973 and 1974 to crown the whole campaign. Mission accomplished: at the end of the 1974 season, Matra withdrew from racing at the very peak of its powers, leaving behind a flawless record. That meteoric trajectory — barely ten years between the creation of the automobile marque and the Le Mans hat-trick — remains unique in the race's history. Matra proved that a French high-technology company could beat the world's greatest manufacturers on the most demanding playing field of all. The French blue of the MS670s and the howl of their V12 now belong to Le Mans's sentimental heritage, regularly celebrated in historic demonstrations before crowds that have forgotten nothing.

• Country : FRA
• Founded : 1964
• Le Mans wins : 3
• First win : 1972
• Last win : 1974