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Maurice Trintignant

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Maurice Trintignant
Trintignant at the 1954 Buenos Aires Grand Prix
Born
Maurice Bienvenu Jean Paul Trintignant

(1917-10-30)30 October 1917
Died13 February 2005(2005-02-13) (aged 87)
Nîmes, Gard, France
RelativesJean-Louis Trintignant (nephew)
Formula One World Championship career
NationalityFrance French
Active years19501964
TeamsGordini, Rosier, Ferrari, Vanwall, Bugatti, Walker, Scuderia Centro Sud, BRM, Aston Martin, Serenissima, Parnell, privateer BRM
Entries86 (81 starts)[a]
Championships0
Wins2
Podiums10[b]
Career points72 13
Pole positions0
Fastest laps1
First entry1950 Monaco Grand Prix
First win1955 Monaco Grand Prix
Last win1958 Monaco Grand Prix
Last entry1964 Italian Grand Prix
24 Hours of Le Mans career
Years19501962, 19641965
TeamsGordini, Rosier, Ferrari, Aston Martin, Porsche, Serenissima, Maserati, Ford
Best finish1st (1954)
Class wins2 (1953, 1954)

Maurice Bienvenu Jean Paul Trintignant (French pronunciation: [mɔʁis bjɛ̃v(ə)ny ʒɑ̃ pɔl tʁɛ̃tiɲɑ̃]; 30 October 1917 – 13 February 2005) was a French racing driver and winemaker, who competed in Formula One from 1950 to 1964. Trintignant won two Formula One Grands Prix across 15 seasons. In endurance racing, Trintignant won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1954 with Ferrari.

Trintignant competed in Formula One for 11 teams, winning two Grands Prix across 15 seasons. He finished fourth in the 1954 and 1955 World Drivers' Championships with Ferrari. He entered 15 editions of the 24 Hours of Le Mans from 1950 to 1965, winning in 1954 alongside José Froilán González, driving the Ferrari 375 Plus, and finished runner-up in 1959.

After retiring from motor racing, Trintignant moved into the winemaking trade, owning a vineyard in Languedoc-Roussillon, where he named his vintage Le Petoulet.[c] Trintignant's nephew, Jean-Louis, was a highly successful actor in post-World War II France.

Racing career

[edit]

He began racing in 1938, and won the 1939 Grand Prix des Frontières, but his career was interrupted by the Second World War, during which his own Bugatti was stored in a barn. When he rebuilt it for an event of 1945, the Coupé de la Liberation, he overlooked a clogged fuel filter, which caused him to drop out of the race. It transpired that the filter was plugged with rat droppings, earning him the unenviable nickname, from another celebrated racer, Jean-Pierre Wimille, of 'Le Petoulet, "the rat-droppings man".[4]

In 1948, Trintignant suffered a very serious accident during a support race for the Swiss Grand Prix. He was thrown in the air, and landed in the middle of the race track. His heart stopped beating for one minute and 15 seconds at the hospital, and he was pronounced dead. However, he survived, and woke up after a week-long coma. He kept a very peculiar looking abdomen scar, as the surgeon stitching a large wound did it at a very irregular pace while his heart had stopped beating. For six months, he suffered from amnesia and a loss of motor skills, but he eventually made a near complete recovery.[5] The corner at which he crashed was later named after him.[6] His wife offered him a stuffed teddy bear during his recovery, and as a superstition, Trintignant kept it in his pocket while he was racing for the rest of his career. He returned to racing in 1949 and won a Formula Two race at the Circuit des Remparts that year.[7]

By 1950 Le Petoulet was successful enough to be offered a works drive for the Gordini team, in the newly formed Formula One World Championship racing series. He competed in Formula One every year until his retirement after the 1964 season. During this long career Trintignant scored two victories, both at the Monaco Grand Prix, in 1955 and 1958.[8] Unusually for Monaco, both victories came from relatively far down the field, as Trintignant started those races from 9th and 5th respectively. 1954 and 1955 were his best Championship years and he finished fourth in the Drivers' Championship in both.

Trintignant won the 1954 24 Hours of Le Mans with José Froilán González in a Ferrari 375 Plus, despite a seven minutes pitstop with one and a half hour to go, due to a faulty ignition wiring caused by the torrential rain.[9]

Known for his conservative and reliable driving style,[10][11] Trintignant drove a huge variety of cars, for many different teams: both works and privateer. Unusually, at the 1955 Argentine Grand Prix Trintignant shared both second and third places, a product of the Scuderia Ferrari policy of passing cars to their top drivers, should their original car break down. In 1956 he drove the Bugatti Type 251 in the French Grand Prix, becoming the last driver to represent the famed marque at a Grand Prix race.[12] Even in his final season, driving his own BRM P57, he scored points, taking fifth place at the 1964 German Grand Prix on the intimidating Nürburgring. Between 1959 and 1966, Trintignant held the record for most World Championship Grand Prix starts.[13] Following his retirement from racing, Maurice Trintignant returned to a quiet life as a wine-grower (naming his vintage Le Petoulet),[14] near the town of Vergèze, in the Languedoc-Roussillon wine growing region.

Trintignant competed in the 2000 Historic Grand Prix of Monaco, reunited with the Cooper T45 he had driven to victory there in 1958.[15]

Trintignant died, aged 87, in 2005.

Major career wins

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Racing record

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Complete Formula One World Championship results

[edit]

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Entrant Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 WDC Pts
1950 Equipe Gordini Simca-Gordini T15 Gordini 15C 1.5 L4s GBR MON
Ret
500 SUI BEL FRA ITA
Ret
NC 0
1951 Equipe Gordini Simca-Gordini T15 Gordini 15C 1.5 L4s SUI
DNA
500 BEL FRA
Ret
GBR GER
Ret
ITA
DNS
ESP
Ret
NC 0
1952 Ecurie Rosier Ferrari 166 F2 Ferrari 166 2.0 V12 SUI
DNS
500 BEL 16th 2
Equipe Gordini Simca-Gordini T15 Gordini 1500 1.5 L4 FRA
5
Gordini T16 Gordini 20 2.0 L6 GBR
Ret
GER
Ret
NED
6
ITA
Ret
1953 Equipe Gordini Gordini T16 Gordini 20 2.0 L6 ARG
7*
500 NED
6
BEL
5
FRA
Ret
GBR
Ret
GER
Ret
SUI
Ret
ITA
5
12th 4
1954 Ecurie Rosier Ferrari 625 Ferrari 625 2.5 L4 ARG
4
500 4th 17
Scuderia Ferrari BEL
2
FRA
Ret
GBR
5
GER
3
SUI
Ret
ITA
5
Ferrari 553 Ferrari 554 2.5 L4 ESP
Ret
1955 Scuderia Ferrari Ferrari 625 Ferrari 555 2.5 L4 ARG
2+3†
MON
1
500 GBR
Ret
4th 11 13
Ferrari 555 BEL
6
NED
Ret
ITA
8
1956 Vandervell Products Ltd Vanwall VW 2 Vanwall 254 2.5 L4 ARG MON
Ret
500 BEL
Ret
GBR
Ret
GER ITA
Ret
NC 0
Automobiles Bugatti Bugatti T251 Bugatti 2.5 L8 FRA
Ret
1957 Scuderia Ferrari Ferrari 801 Ferrari DS50 2.5 V8 ARG MON
5
500 FRA
Ret
GBR
4‡
GER PES ITA 13th 5
1958 R.R.C. Walker Racing Team Cooper T45 Climax FPF 2.0 L4 ARG MON
1
NED
9
500 GER
3
ITA
Ret
MOR
Ret
7th 12
Scuderia Centro Sud Maserati 250F Maserati 250F1 2.5 L6 BEL
7
Owen Racing Organisation BRM P25 BRM P25 2.5 L4 FRA
Ret
R.R.C. Walker Racing Team Cooper T43 Climax FPF 2.0 L4 GBR
8
POR
8
1959 R.R.C. Walker Racing Team Cooper T51 Climax FPF 2.5 L4 MON
3
500 NED
8
FRA
11
GBR
5
GER
4
POR
4
ITA
9
USA
2
5th 19
1960 R.R.C. Walker Racing Team Cooper T51 Climax FPF 2.5 L4 ARG
3[16]
NC 0
Scuderia Centro Sud Maserati 250S 2.5 L4 MON
Ret
500 NED
Ret
BEL FRA
Ret
USA
15
David Brown Corporation Aston Martin DBR5 Aston Martin RB6 2.5 L6 GBR
11
POR ITA
1961 Scuderia Serenissima Cooper T51 Maserati Tipo 6 1.5 L4 MON
7
NED BEL
Ret
FRA
13
GBR GER
Ret
ITA
9
USA NC 0
1962 R.R.C. Walker Racing Team Lotus 24 Climax FWMV 1.5 V8 NED
WD
MON
Ret
BEL
8
FRA
7
GBR
WD
GER
Ret
ITA
Ret
USA
Ret
RSA NC 0
1963 Reg Parnell Racing Lola Mk4A Climax FWMV 1.5 V8 MON
Ret
BEL NED NC 0
Lotus 24 FRA
8
GBR GER
Scuderia Centro Sud BRM P57 BRM P56 1.5 V8 ITA
9
USA MEX RSA
1964 Maurice Trintignant BRM P57 BRM P56 1.5 V8 MON
Ret
NED BEL FRA
11
GBR
DNQ
GER
5
AUT
DNA
ITA
Ret
USA MEX 16th 2
* Indicates shared drive with Harry Schell
† Indicates shared drives with José Froilán González and Giuseppe Farina (2nd place) & Giuseppe Farina and Umberto Maglioli (3rd place)
‡ Indicates shared drive with Peter Collins

Complete 24 Hours of Le Mans results

[edit]
Year Team Co-Drivers Car Class Laps Pos. Class
Pos.
1950 France Automobiles Gordini France Robert Manzon Gordini T15S Coupé S 3.0 34 DNF
(Water radiator)
1951 France Equipe Gordini France Jean Behra Gordini T15S S 1.5 49 DNF
(Ignition)
1952 France Ecurie Rosier France Louis Rosier Ferrari 340 America Spyder S 5.0 DNF
(Clutch)
1953 France Automobiles Gordini United States Harry Schell Gordini T26S S 3.0 293 6th 1st
1954 Italy Scuderia Ferrari Argentina José Froilán González Ferrari 375 Plus S 5.0 302 1st 1st
1955 Italy Scuderia Ferrari United States Harry Schell Ferrari 735 LM S 5.0 107 DNF
(Clutch)
1956 Italy Scuderia Ferrari Belgium Olivier Gendebien Ferrari 625 LM Touring S 3.0 293 3rd 2nd
1957 Italy Scuderia Ferrari Belgium Olivier Gendebien Ferrari 250 TR S 5.0 109 DNF
(Piston)
1958 United Kingdom David Brown Racing Dept. United Kingdom Tony Brooks Aston Martin DBR1/300 S 3.0 173 DNF
(Gearbox)
1959 United Kingdom David Brown Racing Dept. Belgium Paul Frère Aston Martin DBR1/300 S 3.0 322 2nd 2nd
1960 West Germany Porsche KG West Germany Hans Herrmann Porsche 718 RS 60 S 2.0 57 DNF
(Piston)
1961 Italy Scuderia Serenissima Italy Carlo Maria Abate Ferrari 250 GT SWB GT 3.0 162 DNF
(Transmission)
1962 France Maserati France Belgium Lucien Bianchi Maserati Tipo 151/1 E +3.0 152 DNF
(Suspension)
1964 France Maserati France France André Simon Maserati Tipo 151/3 P 5.0 99 DNF
(Electrical)
1965 France Ford France S.A. France Guy Ligier Ford GT40 Roadster P 5.0 11 DNF
(Gearbox)

Complete 12 Hours of Sebring results

[edit]
Year Team Co-Drivers Car Class Laps Pos. Class
Pos.
1957 Italy Ferrari Factory United Kingdom Peter Collins Ferrari 315 S S5.0 187 6th 5th

Complete British Saloon Car Championship results

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(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap.)

Year Team Car Class 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Pos. Pts Class
1962 Ford Motor Company Ford Zodiac Mk 3 C SNE GOO AIN SIL
?
CRY AIN BRH OUL 22nd 6 3rd
Source:[17]

Trivia

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Notes

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  1. ^ Trintignant was initially credited with starting the 1951 Italian Grand Prix, as he was secretly replaced by Jean Behra. Gordini team principal Amédée Gordini did not inform the race organisers about the switch as it would have increased the team's starting fee. Some sources still credit Trintignant with the start.[1][2]
  2. ^ Including both second and third place at the 1955 Argentine Grand Prix.
  3. ^ In French, Le Petoulet means "The Rat-Droppings Man", a popular nickname given to Trintignant by Jean-Pierre Wimille.[3][4]

References

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  1. ^ "Jean Behra - Biography". MotorSportMagazine. Retrieved 26 June 2019.
  2. ^ "Seasons - Italy 1951". www.statsf1.com. Retrieved 26 June 2019.
  3. ^ "Drivers - Maurice Trintignant". Grandprix.com. Retrieved 24 October 2024.
  4. ^ a b Michael Kettlewell, World of Automobiles (Orbis, 1974), Volume 20, p.2368
  5. ^ Vergès, Patrice (6 October 2017). "Maurice Trintignant, 48 victoires et 1000 histoires". Classic Courses (in French). Retrieved 17 December 2023.
  6. ^ "Motorsport Memorial -". www.motorsportmemorial.org. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
  7. ^ "La fabuleuse histoire de Maurice Trintignant, légende de la Formule 1, qui a vécu dans le Gard". midilibre.fr (in French). Retrieved 17 December 2023.
  8. ^ Daily Express page 9 Monday 19 May 1958
  9. ^ "Le Mans 1954". www.sportscars.tv. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
  10. ^ "8W - What? - Bugatti T251". www.forix.com. Retrieved 8 January 2024.
  11. ^ Vergès, Patrice (13 October 2017). "Maurice Trintignant , 48 victoires et 1000 histoires - 2/2". Classic Courses (in French). Retrieved 18 December 2023.
  12. ^ Mattijs Diepraam, Colombo's flawed brilliance, 8W, October 1998.
  13. ^ "Statistics Drivers - Grands Prix - Chronology of the record • STATS F1". www.statsf1.com. Retrieved 22 December 2023.
  14. ^ ibid.
  15. ^ "The Ex-Rob Walker Racing Team/Maurice Trintignant 1958 Monaco Grand Prix Winning, 1958 Cooper-Climax Type 45 — Polson Motor Company". polsonmotorco.com. Archived from the original on 20 May 2021. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
  16. ^ No points awarded for shared drive with Stirling Moss in the 1960 Argentine Grand Prix
  17. ^ de Jong, Frank. "British Saloon Car Championship". History of Touring Car Racing 1952-1993. Retrieved 29 September 2022.
[edit]
Sporting positions
Preceded by Winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans
1954
With: José Froilán González
Succeeded by
Records
Preceded by
Stirling Moss
67 entries, 66 starts
(19511961)
Most Grand Prix entries
84 entries, 82 starts
(19501964)
68th at the 1961 French GP
Succeeded by
Jack Brabham
128 entries, 126 starts
85th at the 1966 Monaco GP