Matra-Simca MS650
# Matra-Simca MS650

The Matra-Simca MS650 is a Group 6 prototype race car introduced in 1969 for the International Championship for Makes. The MS650 replaced the previous Matra-Simca MS630.

## Racing History

### 1969

The car made its debut at the 1969 24 Hours of Le Mans with a four car entry. Jean-Pierre Beltoise/Piers Courage in the MS650, Jean Guichet/Nino Vaccarella in the MS630, Nanni Galli/Robin Widdows and Johnny Servoz-Gavin/Herbert Müller were both in the MS630/650. Beltoise/Courage finished fourth followed by Guichet/Vaccarella in fifth, Galli/Widdows seventh but Servoz-Gavin/Müller retired when an electrical circuit failed. For the 1969 6 Hours of Watkins Glen, Matra entered two cars for Servoz-Gavin/Pedro Rodriguez in the MS650 and Guichet/Widdows in the MS630/650. Servoz-Gavin/Rodriguez finished fourth and Guichet/Widdows retired with a broken clutch. For the final race of the 1969 season, the 1000km of Zeltweg, Matra only entered Servoz-Gavin/Rodriguez but the car retired through accident.

In the International Championship for Makes, Matra had scored six points, earning it fifth place in the championship.

### 1970

The first race of the season was the 1970 24 Hours of Daytona, Matra had two cars for Jack Brabham/François Cevert and Jean-Pierre Beltoise/Henri Pescarolo. Brabham/Cevert finished tenth and Beltoise/Pescarolo finished 18th. Matra made changes to the driver line ups for the 12 Hours of Sebring, Pescarolo/Servoz-Gavin and Cevert/Dan Gurney. Pescarolo/Servoz-Gavin finished fifth and Cevert/Gurney finish 12th. Matra again made changes to the driver line ups for the 1000km of Brands Hatch, The team put Brabham/Beltoise together but kept Pescarolo/Servoz-Gavin. Brabham/Beltoise finish 12th and Pescarolo/Servoz-Gavin retired with engine failure. The MNZ saw Brabham/Beltoise fifth followed by Pescarolo/Servoz-Gavin in sixth. The team skipped the next three races, the Targa Florio, 1000km of Spa-Francorchamps and 1000km of Nürburgring. The team entered three cars for the 24 Hours of Le Mans Beltoise/Pescarolo in the new Matra-Simca MS660, Brabham/Cevert and Patrick Depailler/Jean-Pierre Jabouille/Tim Schenken were both in the MS650 but all three cars retired with engine failure. The team skipped the final two race of the 1970 season, the Watkins Glen 6 Hours and Austrian 1000km.

In the International Championship for Makes, Matra had scored four points, earning it fourth place in the championship.

## Complete International Championship for Makes results

| Year | Entrant | Class | Drivers | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | Points | ICMP |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1969 | Equipe Matra - Elf | Group 5 | | DAY | SEB | BHC | MZA | TGA | SPA | NÜR | LMS | WGN | ORC | 6 | 5th |
| 1969 | Equipe Matra - Elf | Group 5 | Jean-Pierre Beltoise | | | | | | | | 4 | | | 6 | 5th |
| 1969 | Equipe Matra - Elf | Group 5 | Piers Courage | | | | | | | | 4 | | | 6 | 5th |
| 1969 | Matra of France Matra Sports | Group 5 | Pedro Rodriguez | | | | | | | | | 4 | 23 | 6 | 5th |
| 1969 | Matra of France Matra Sports | Group 5 | Johnny Servoz-Gavin | | | | | | | | | 4 | 23 | 6 | 5th |
| 1970 | Equipe Matra-Simca | Group 5 | | DAY | SEB | BHC | MZA | TGA | SPA | NÜR | LMS | WGN | ORC | 4 | 4th |
| 1970 | Equipe Matra-Simca | Group 5 | Jack Brabham | 10 | | 12 | 5 | | | | 36 | | | 4 | 4th |
| 1970 | Equipe Matra-Simca | Group 5 | François Cevert | 10 | 12 | | | | | | 36 | | | 4 | 4th |
| 1970 | Equipe Matra-Simca | Group 5 | Dan Gurney | | 12 | | | | | | | | | 4 | 4th |
| 1970 | Equipe Matra-Simca | Group 5 | Jean-Pierre Beltoise | 18 | | 12 | 5 | | | | | | | 4 | 4th |
| 1970 | Equipe Matra-Simca | Group 5 | Henri Pescarolo | 18 | 5 | 21 | 6 | | | | | | | 4 | 4th |
| 1970 | Equipe Matra-Simca | Group 5 | Johnny Servoz-Gavin | | 5 | 21 | 6 | | | | | | | 4 | 4th |
| 1970 | Equipe Matra-Simca | Group 5 | Patrick Depailler | | | | | | | | 37 | | | 4 | 4th |
| 1970 | Equipe Matra-Simca | Group 5 | Jean-Pierre Jabouille | | | | | | | | 37 | | | 4 | 4th |
| 1970 | Equipe Matra-Simca | Group 5 | Tim Schenken | | | | | | | | 37 | | | 4 | 4th |
