Matra 620 n°43 driven by Henri Pescarolo

The Matra 620 was the first Matra to tread the tarmac of the 24 Hours of Le Mans track in 1966. An ambitious global project for the development of the brand in the automotive and motor sports was launched at the end of 1965. Jean-Luc Lagardère is the source of this visionary simultaneous program in F2, F3, rally and endurance and he will try with less success to also launch himself in F1.

The 620 arriving at Le Mans is in line with the road version of the 530. Matra engages three cars.

It is Jean-Pierre Beltoise who takes the start on 620 n°41. He finished the first hour in an honorable 20th place behind the Porsche 906 2L n°30 of Jo Siffert and n°32 of Udo Schnütz. Until midnight, the Matra with the yellow eye oscillates between 22nd and 24th place, but gradually loses contact. The pipe is obstructed by exhaust gases that fill the passenger compartment due to a broken pipe. The problems then add up to give up after 112 laps.

It has been 60 years since the first Matra hit the asphalt at the 24 Hours of Le Mans track. It was the 620. It was supposed to look like the road version of the 530. Equipped with a 2L V8-BRM Formula 1 engine, the technical consequences on the chassis were as many challenges to overcome and the team still in training has, despite the many hours of work and dedication, struggled to complete this project.

Jo Schlesser, into car number 42 with a red right eye, is the most experienced of the French drivers and places position 19th after the first lap. But his progress is quickly slowed down by the warning light of the alternator which turned on and shock absorber problems that put him in 47th position after the first hour of racing. At midnight, trouble is behind the Franco-British team, which has climbed to 30th position. But when the CD-Peugeot spins around to let him go, Schlesser hits it without gravity and starts again, but he is hit in turn by Scarfiotti’s Ferrari P3. The rear of the car is completely destroyed and has to give up.