Double Le Mans winner Jean-Pierre Jaussaud has died at the age of 84.
The Frenchman enjoyed a hugely successful career, not least in front of his home crowds. Both his Le Mans wins came aboard French machinery, first in 1978 alongside compatriot Didier Pironi with Alpine and again in 1980 with local privateer Jean Rondeau.
In doing so, he helped Rondeau cement his place in the history books as the first and so far only driver to win the grand race with a car bearing his/her own name.
Jaussaud managed his A442 B's pace at Le Mans in 1978 and was rewarded with victory
Born in Caen in 1937, he was already 40 by the time he climbed on to the top step at La Sarthe alongside his 26-year-old teammate in 1978, an old head to help the young talented crop of French hopefuls.
He had been on the podium twice before, too, claiming a distant third with Matra in 1973 partnering Jean-Pierre Jabouille and again two years later with Vern Schuppan in a Gulf-Mirage GR8.
A key part of the Renault and Alpine turbo project, the squad’s second appearance at Le Mans yielded the ultimate result as a tired Pironi nursed a sticking gearchange to the flag. The pair would later take the car down the Champs-Élysées in celebration.
