Great Read: The missile firm that won Le Mans and F1 titles

Matra's impossible dream  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ View in browser View in browser ARTICLES MAGAZINE SHOP DATABASE SHOP ARCHIVE The missile firm that won Le Mans and F1: Matra's impossible dream March 1999 | Gordon Cruickshank Matra's plan was to win both Formula 1 titles plus Le Mans in just ten years. In the event, it did all that and more, with its first grand prix victory coming 57 years ago today at Zandvoort. Today's Great Read details the extraordinary tale.   It's hard to think of a recent equivalent to the Matra racing regime. In one glorious decade, from 1965 to 1974, Matra fielded victorious Grand Prix cars and Le Mans winners at the same time as building F2 and F3 cars and selling quirky roadcars … Perhaps McLaren's 1995 Le Mans win makes them somewhat comparable – but McLaren have never made ground-to-air missiles as well. READ MORE PHOTO: BERNARD CAHIER/GETTY IMAGES F1 Motor Sport 'It was like a mafia scene' - Scheckter recalls Ferrari meeting that shaped 1979 F1 season "An old man with white hair, in a suit, wearing dark glasses, in a dark office, with bodyguards all around." READ MORE Motor Sport Branded Explore our best-selling products, specially selected for Motor Sport enthusiasts like you. Racing Green Motor Sport Binder BUY NOW Wireless Earphones Motor Sport BUY NOW Coasters Motor Sport BUY NOW Le Mans Winners' Cars Motor Sport Poster BUY NOW Flask Bottle Motor Sport BUY NOW Laptop Bag Motor Sport BUY NOW Update your content preferences UPDATE NOW Connect with us We now accept © 2025 Motor Sport Magazine, All rights reserved. Motor Sport Magazine, 18-20 Rosemont Road, London, NW3 6NE. © 2025 Motor Sport Magazine, All rights reserved. Motor Sport Magazine,  18-20 Rosemont Road, London, NW3 6NE. Unsubscribe  |  Privacy Policy