Jacques Laffite and his Ligier years

When did you meet Guy Ligier?

In 1972. I was competing in the French Formula Championship Renault, which I won and Guy, after being put in touch by my sponsor at the time, BP, offered to take part in the 24 Hours of LeMans in one of his cars, an event which I won. contested three times for him (in 1972, 1973 and 1974, for two retirements and an 8th place. Editor's note).

But it was during a private test session during the winter of 1975-1976 that we got to know each other better. I was coming back from a race in Japan, I was European Champion in F2 on Tico's Martini/BMW, I offered the title of World Sports Champion to Alfa Romeo and, above all, I had just finished 12th in the world championship of F1 on an ISO that has become Williams? That?s why Guy asked me to come. “I’m interested in your opinion,” he told me. Nothing more …

How did you come so close to the world goal, in 1979, with this fantastic and exceptional ground-effect JS11?

I thought about it a thousand times about those missed opportunities in 1979, 80 and 81? 1979? I won the first two Grands Prix of the season, then Ferrari catches up with us. We try to develop as best we can, but without even the slightest hour of wind tunnel, is it unplayable? What I remember is that we came close to the feat three times with means that none of the teams we were fighting against had...

Find the full testimony of Jacques Laffite, in issue 2027 of AUTOhebdo, available in digital version, and on newsstands.