Matra MS620

Matra MS620
Category Group 6
Constructor Matra
Predecessor Matra MS610
Successor Matra MS630
Technical specifications[1]
Chassis Tubular space frame
Engine BRM 1,915 cc (116.9 cu in) 16 valve, DOHC V8, naturally aspirated, mid engined
Ford 289 cu in (4,736 cc) 16 valve, OHV V8, naturally aspirated
Transmission ZF 5DS 25 5-speed manual
Tyres Firestone
Competition history
Notable entrants Matra-Sports
Debut 1966 1000km of Monza
RacesWinsPoles
8 (10 entries)11
Teams' Championships 0
Constructors' Championships 0
Drivers' Championships 0

The Matra MS620 (sometimes referred to as the M620) was a Group 6 sports prototype built by Matra in 1966, and was the second such car built by the company. Fitted with a 1.9-litre version of the BRM Formula One V8 engine, four cars were built, but were mostly used as developmental cars. In 1967, the MS620 was replaced by the 3-litre Matra MS630, although it was used in the Le Mans Test of that year, fitted with a 4.7-litre Ford V8 engine.

Racing history

In 1966, Matra decided to build their second sports prototype;[2] designed to the Group 6 regulations, the car featured a 1.9-litre version of the BRM Formula One V8 engine (capable of producing 245 hp (183 kW; 248 PS) at 9,000 RPM), and was named as the MS620.[1] Four cars were built, and the car made its first appearance at the Le Mans Test in April 1966,[3] setting the tenth fastest time in the hands of Jo Schlesser, Jean-Pierre Jaussaud and Johnny Servoz-Gavin.[4] The MS620 made its racing at the 1000 km of Monza, which was the third round of the World Sportscar Championship; Servoz-Gavin and Jassaud shared the sole MS620 present (a second entry, with Ernesto Brambilla earmarked to drive it, never materialized) but were not classified.[5] Matra's next entry came at the 1000 km of Spa, where Servoz-Gavin was joined by Alan Rees, but a fuel system issue prevented the pair from finishing the race.[6] Both drivers were entered for the 1000 km of Nürburgring, but did not race.[7]

For the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Matra entered three MS620s; with Jassaud and Henri Pescarolo driving car #02, Schlesser and Rees driving car #03, and Jean-Pierre Beltoise partnering Servoz-Gavin in car #04.[8] However, all three cars retired; car #02 with engine failure after 38 laps, car #03 after an accident after 100 laps, and the other MS620 after a gearbox failure on lap 112.[9] Matra then opted to enter Beltoise at the Trophée d'Auvergne non-championship event, and he finished the race, albeit in 17th and last place,[10] following a battery failure after 11 laps.[1] Beltoise was behind the wheel of the MS620 in another non-championship event, this time held at Magny-Cours, and he won the event.[11] Matra then attempted to enter Schlesser at the Hockenheim Grand Prix, but did not attend the event.[12] Instead, the car's next race came at the non-championship Coupe de Paris, where Servoz-Gavin took second place.[13] Beltoise was next behind the wheel of a MS620 at the Coupes du Salon, but he crashed out of the event.[14] Matra finished the season by entering two cars at the 1000 km of Paris; Jassaud and Pescarolo and one, with Beltoise partnering Servoz-Gavin in the other.[15] Once more, however, neither car finished, as the car of Beltoise and Servoz-Gavin crashed out after 14 laps, and ignition problems forced Jaussaud and Pescarolo out on lap 43.[16] This would prove to be the car's last race, although Jassaud and Roby Weber did set the eighth fastest time at the Le Mans Test in 1967 (the BRM engine having been replaced by a 4.7-litre Ford V8, capable of producing 385 hp (287 kW; 390 PS) at 6,500 rpm) - the latter dying in an accident whilst driving the MS620's replacement, the Matra MS630.[17]

References

  1. 1 2 3 McDonough, Ed (28 January 2010). Matra Sports Cars: MS620, 630, 650, 660 and 670 - 1966 to 1974 - WSC Giants. Veloce Publishing Ltd. ISBN 9781845842611.
  2. ↑ "The Matra M620". Matra Sport Denmark. Retrieved 22 December 2013.
  3. ↑ "Matra M620 – All results". Racing Sports Cars. Retrieved 22 December 2013.
  4. ↑ "Le Mans Test 1966 – Results". Racing Sports Cars. Retrieved 22 December 2013.
  5. ↑ "Monza 1000 Kilometres 1966 – Race Results". Racing Sports Cars. Retrieved 22 December 2013.
  6. ↑ "Spa 1000 Kilometres 1966 – Race Results". Racing Sports Cars. Retrieved 22 December 2013.
  7. ↑ "Nürburgring 1000 Kilometres 1966 – Race Results". Racing Sports Cars. Retrieved 22 December 2013.
  8. ↑ "Le Mans 24 Hours 1966 – Photo Gallery". Racing Sports Cars. Retrieved 22 December 2013.
  9. ↑ "Le Mans 24 Hours 1966 – Race Results". Racing Sports Cars. Retrieved 22 December 2013.
  10. ↑ "Trophée d'Auvergne 1966 – Race Results". Racing Sports Cars. Retrieved 22 December 2013.
  11. ↑ "Magny-Cours 1966-07-17 – Race Results". Racing Sports Cars. Retrieved 22 December 2013.
  12. ↑ "GP Hockenheim 1966 – Race Results". Racing Sports Cars. Retrieved 22 December 2013.
  13. ↑ "Coupe de Paris [SP] 1966 – Race Results". Racing Sports Cars. Retrieved 22 December 2013.
  14. ↑ "Coupes du Salon 1966 – Race Results". Racing Sports Cars. Retrieved 22 December 2013.
  15. ↑ "Paris 1000 Kilometres 1966 – Photo Gallery". Racing Sports Cars. Retrieved 22 December 2013.
  16. ↑ "Paris 1000 Kilometres 1966 – Race Results". Racing Sports Cars. Retrieved 22 December 2013.
  17. ↑ "Le Mans Test 1967 – Results". Racing Sports Cars. Retrieved 22 December 2013.

Further reading

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