Matra MS10
 Stewart's MS10 from the 1968 Dutch Grand Prix at Donington | |||||||||
| Category | Formula One | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Constructor | Matra | ||||||||
| Designer(s) | Gerard Ducarouge Bernard Boyer | ||||||||
| Predecessor | MS9 | ||||||||
| Successor | MS11 / MS 80 | ||||||||
| Technical specifications[1] | |||||||||
| Chassis | Aluminium monocoque | ||||||||
| Engine | Ford Cosworth DFV 2,993 cc (182.6 cu in) V8 NA mid-engined | ||||||||
| Transmission | Hewland DG300 5 speed | ||||||||
| Weight | 540 kg (1,190.5 lb) | ||||||||
| Fuel | Elf | ||||||||
| Tyres | Dunlop | ||||||||
| Competition history | |||||||||
| Notable entrants | Matra | ||||||||
| Notable drivers |  Jackie Stewart Jean-Pierre Beltoise Johnny Servoz-Gavin | ||||||||
| Debut | 1968 Spanish Grand Prix | ||||||||
| |||||||||
| Constructors' Championships | 0 | ||||||||
| Drivers' Championships | 0 | ||||||||
| n.b. Unless otherwise stated, all data refer to Formula One World Championship Grands Prix only. | |||||||||
The Matra MS11 is a Formula One car used by the Matra team during the 1968 Formula One season. Raced simultaneously with the Matra MS11, it was considerably more successful due to its Cosworth DFV engine and the face that upcoming three-time World Champion Jackie Stewart was racing it primarily.
It was however not Stewart but Jean-Pierre Beltoise who debuted the car at the 1968 Spanish Grand Prix since the Scot was sidelined with a wrist injury he sustained during a Formula Two race at the same circuit.[2] The car was mounted with wings on several occasions. At the Italian Grand Prix and the United States Grand Prix for example, Stewart raced the MS10 with a high suspension-mounted wing,[3] the same kind that was outlawed the following season after both Lotus drivers suffered near-fatal accidents at the Spanish Grand Prix.[4] At the 1969 South African Grand Prix the car was even raced with two high wings, one over the front and one over the rear suspension.[5] At other races the MS10 was raced with a lower wing, such as during Stewart's dominant win at the Nürburgring (pictured). Then again, at races such as the 1968 Dutch Grand Prix, Stewart raced without any wing.
The car's most innovative feature was the use of aviation-inspired structural fuel tanks. These allowed the chassis to be around 15 kg lighter, while still being stronger than its competitors. The FIA considered the technology to be unsafe and decided to ban it for 1970, insisting on rubber bag-tanks.
Gallery
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References
- ^ "Matra MS10". StatsF1.com. Retrieved 28 January 2015.
- ^ "GRAND PRIX RESULTS: SPANISH GP, 1968". Grandprix.com. Retrieved 28 January 2015.
- ^ "Matra MS 10 Grand Prix car". automobiliac.com. Retrieved 28 January 2015.
- ^ "GRAND PRIX RESULTS: SPANISH GP, 1969". Grandprix.com. Retrieved 28 January 2015.
- ^ "1969 SA GP Stewart Matra MS10 two wings". motoprint.co.za. Retrieved 28 January 2015.