Jacques Laffite celebrates his 81th birthday!

5. Morgan Aero 8 GT3 (2007)

© DPPI

We grant you, this is not the car that would come to mind when you think of Jacques Laffite's career. But for the looks and sound of this car alone, it had to be in the rankings!

Powered by a 5-liter atmospheric BMW engine developing 420 horsepower, the Morgan Aero 8 is clearly distinguished by its neo-retro design. A design that stands out completely from the Audi R8 and others Ferrari F430! On board, Jacques Laffite competed in a few rounds of the European FIA GT3 in 2007 and 2008 in a team that he managed with Jean-Pierre Jabouille. His daughter Margot Laffite also drove the vintage GT during this period.

4. Alfa Romeo Tipo 33 TT 12 (1975)

J.Laffite at the Monza circuit in 1975. © WRI2/J.-F. Galleron

Again, this is not a car ! But what beauty this Alfa Romeo Tipo 33 TT 12, driven by the driver from Paris in 1975. Engaged in the World Sports Car Championship that year, the Frenchman dexterously managed this prototype with incredible technical characteristics: 500 horsepower extracted from a 12 block flat cylinders for a total weight of just 670 kg!

Jacques Laffite dominated the season with his Italian teammate Arturio Merzario and won four winner's trophies in the process (800 kilometers from Dijon, 1 kilometers from Monza, and 000 kilometers from the Nürburgring on the great and formidable Nordschleife).

3. Martini Mk16 (1975)

Sliding at the Gare bend! ©DR

In parallel with its season of Formula 1 On behalf of Williams and its commitment to sports cars, “Jacquot” is investigating with a second campaign in Formula 2. At that time, this multiplication of competitions was commonplace.

Well done to him: he scored six successes aboard a Martini Mk 16 with a BMW M12 engine and won the European Championship in the discipline. His biggest victory of the season was the Grand Prix de Pau, won ahead of Jean-Pierre Jabouille and Patrick Depailler.

2. Ligier JS7 (1977)

© WRI2/J.-F. Galleron

Cock-a-doodle Doo ! June 19, 1977 remains a great day for French motorsport. This is in fact the first time that a 100% French driver-car-engine combination has won a Grand Prix. The event takes place in Anderstorp (Sweden).

However, nothing seemed to predestine Jacques Laffite, Ligier and Matra to open their victory counters that day. In the lead for 68 laps, Mario Andretti (Lotus) made an additional pit stop a few miles from the finish, due to poor fuel dosing. The French trio took the opportunity to take the lead with six laps remaining.

The race management was so surprised by this turnaround that they did not think of having La Marseillaise CD in their section! And then, what a melody this Matra V12 engine…

1. Ligier JS11 (1979)

© WRI2/J.-F. Galleron

At the wheel, Jacques Laffite enters the category of favorites for the 1979 world champion title. The reason? Two successes in quick succession at the start of the season, in Buenos Aires (Argentina) then at Interlagos (Brazil) on the Ligier JS11! With the solid Ford Cosworth DFV V8 engine, the Habs led the general classification in the spring, but success failed with three successive retirements.

Unfortunately Ligier's development work will not be as effective as that undertaken by Ferrari and Jacques Laffite will slip to fourth place overall, behind in particular Jody Scheckter (Ferrari) and Gilles Villeneuve (Ferrari).

AUTOhebdo also dedicated a Collector to Jacques Laffit published at the beginning of the year. It is still available on our online store as well in version paper which PRESENCE !