Former Grand Prix driver Jean-Pierre Jabouille, the person who took Renault’s first Components 1 win, has died aged 80.
The Frenchman was a key a part of Renault’s 1977 entry into Components 1 – they usually have been the primary producer to make use of a turbocharged engine.
Jabouille took Renault’s maiden win within the 1979 French Grand Prix.
His ultimate victory got here in Austria in 1980, however his profession was ended later that yr when he broke a leg in a crash in Canada.
He had been in any case because of go away the Renault group as a result of his seat had been taken by rising star Alain Prost for 1981.
Jabouille tried to return with the Talbot Ligier group, however was clearly unfit and retired as a driver after failing to qualify for 2 of his 4 makes an attempt.
The Alpine group, owned by Renault, stated in an announcement that it was “extremely saddened” by Jabouille’s loss of life.
“A humble racing driver, good engineer and a pioneer of our sport. Jean-Pierre was a real racer.
“He spearheaded Renault’s journey into F1 in 1977 along with his resilient and dare-to-do perspective. He was Renault’s first Grand Prix winner in 1979, a landmark second in Renault’s journey in Components 1.
“His dedication and dedication to succeed impressed many, and these values stay central to the present group in its now blue colors of Alpine.
“We’re the place we’re at present due to Jean-Pierre and his legacy lives on.”
Jabouille, an engineer by commerce, joined the Renault F1 mission from its begin to assist develop its new turbo engine.
On the time, F1 was dominated by naturally aspirated three-litre V8s however Renault was the primary to see the potential of an equivalence formulation that permitted the usage of 1.5-litre turbos.
Initially, the automotive was a laughing inventory, dubbed the “yellow teapot” by British rivals due to its poor reliability.
However the engine was instantly extra highly effective than the V8s utilized by different groups. Assiduous work improved the engine’s reliability and, by 1979, the group additionally had a aggressive chassis.
Their maiden victory couldn’t have come in additional very best circumstances for a group representing France’s nationwide automotive firm: it got here on residence soil at Dijon-Prenois, with a French driver in a French automotive with a French engine utilizing French Michelin tyres.
The disappointment for each Jabouille and Renault is that the race was destined to be extra well-known for the gripping racing between his team-mate Rene Arnoux and Ferrari’s Gilles Villeneuve for second place.
One of many best duels in F1 historical past was finally settled in Villeneuve’s favour after a ultimate few laps marked by inconceivable overtaking strikes, common place swaps, off-track moments and wheel-banging incidents.
Jabouille had earlier within the season taken the group’s first pole place, aided by the excessive altitude on the South African Grand Prix at Kyalami, and he took two additional poles that yr in Germany and Italy, though poor reliability prevented any additional wins.
In 1980, Jabouille took two extra poles alongside along with his win in Austria, whereas Arnoux received twice in South Africa and Brazil.
After his retirement from F1, Jabouille was briefly a supervisor on the Ligier group, earlier than stepping away.
He returned as head of the ill-fated Peugeot engine programme within the Nineties.
Peugeot, contemporary from successful Le Mans in 1993, joined forces with McLaren for 1994, however the relationship was a tense one and it ended early – after only one season of poor efficiency and reliability. Peugeot switched to Jordan from 1995-97 after which to Prost’s group from 1998 earlier than withdrawing on the finish of 2000.
