Former Grand Prix driver Jean-Pierre Jabouille, the person who took Renault’s first Method 1 win, has died aged 80.
The Frenchman was a key a part of Renault’s 1977 entry into Method 1 – and so they 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 last victory got here in Austria in 1980, however his profession was ended later that 12 months when he broke a leg in a crash in Canada.
He had been in any case on account of go away the Renault crew as a result of his seat had been taken by rising star Alain Prost for 1981.
Jabouille tried to return with the Talbot Ligier crew, however was clearly unfit and retired as a driver after failing to qualify for 2 of his 4 makes an attempt.
The Alpine crew, owned by Renault, mentioned 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 together with his resilient and dare-to-do angle. He was Renault’s first Grand Prix winner in 1979, a landmark second in Renault’s journey in Method 1.
“His willpower and dedication to succeed impressed many, and these values stay central to the present crew in its now blue colors of Alpine.
“We’re the place we’re immediately due to Jean-Pierre and his legacy lives on.”
Jabouille, an engineer by commerce, joined the Renault F1 challenge 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 system that permitted the usage of 1.5-litre turbos.
Initially, the automobile 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 crew additionally had a aggressive chassis.
Their maiden victory couldn’t have come in additional supreme circumstances for a crew representing France’s nationwide automobile firm: it got here on residence soil at Dijon-Prenois, with a French driver in a French automobile 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 ultimately settled in Villeneuve’s favour after a last 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 crew’s first pole place, aided by the excessive altitude on the South African Grand Prix at Kyalami, and he took two additional poles that 12 months in Germany and Italy, though poor reliability prevented any additional wins.
In 1980, Jabouille took two extra poles alongside together 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 crew, earlier than stepping away.
He returned as head of the ill-fated Peugeot engine programme within the Nineteen 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 crew from 1998 earlier than withdrawing on the finish of 2000.