Matra MS9
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Stewart's MS9 at Donington | |||||||||||
| Category | Formula One | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Constructor | Matra | ||||||||||
| Designer(s) | Gerard Ducarouge Bernard Boyer | ||||||||||
| Predecessor | MS7 | ||||||||||
| Successor | MS10 | ||||||||||
| Technical specifications[1] | |||||||||||
| Chassis | Aluminium monocoque | ||||||||||
| Engine | Ford Cosworth DFV 2,993 cc (182.6 cu in) V8 NA mid-engined | ||||||||||
| Transmission | Hewland 5 speed | ||||||||||
| Weight | 540 kg (1,190.5 lb) | ||||||||||
| Fuel | Elf | ||||||||||
| Tyres | Dunlop | ||||||||||
| Competition history | |||||||||||
| Notable entrants | Matra International | ||||||||||
| Notable drivers | |||||||||||
| Debut | 1968 South African 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 MS9 was a Formula One car used by the Matra International team during the 1968 Formula One season. It only raced once in a world championship race, driven by Jackie Stewart at the 1968 South African Grand Prix,[2] before being replaced by the Matra MS10. At its only outing, it qualified third, but Stewart had to retire due to a connecting rod failure.[1]
After success with their Formula 2 programme, Matra had plans to compete in Formula 1 with a car powered by their own Matra Sports V12 engine. However, Ken Tyrrell, who had run Matras in his own Formula 2 team, persuaded Matra to construct a car powered by the Cosworth DFV engine. To develop the concept, a Matra MS7 F2 car was modified to take a DFV, with suspension components taken from the Matra Group 6 sports car.[3]