Jean-Pierre Jarier was born in Charenton-le-Pont, a Paris suburb, just after World War II in a family that ran a small hotel. Jarier studied economy in high-school. After his studies, Jean-Pierre Jarier discovered the Monthléry racing track. He lived just at a distance of about 20 miles from the track. That made it a small step to start into motorcycle racing. His parents didn’t like the new passion of Jarrier very much. As a result, at the age of 21, he promised them to quit motor cycle racing. But, the condition was that his mother would sell her old Peugeot and trade it for a Renault 8 Gordini. Just as many other French youngster, Jean-Pierre Jarier used that car in his first steps of car racing.
Single Seater Career
By 1971, Jean-Pierre Jarier moved up to Formula 2 with the Shell Arnold team. At Crystal Palace he scores his first major result by finishing second in a heat of the London Trophy. That same year, Jean-Pierre Jarier scored some more podium spots and makes his F1 debut. The first F1 races Jarier has a seat in private Marches, including his F1 debut at Monza with the Shell Arnold team. Running out of money, Jarier only participates in a few F2 races in 1972.
Jean-Pierre Jarier , Shadow DN5 ,1975 GP Nurburgring
Shadow F1 team
Everybody knew that Jean-Pierre Jarier had talent. So in 1973, the March-BMW team offers him a seat in an F2 car. Jarrier accepts thankful and crowns himself to F2 champion. Next to that, whenever available, Larrier took the wheel of a March F1 car in 1973 too. In 1974 he joins the Shadow F1 team. Jarrier races in the Shadow team for 3 seasons, but with minor succes except for a 3rd spot at the 1974 Monaco GP. In 1976, the major sponsor of Shadow Racing Team, Universal Oil Products withdraws. That, combined with the lack of reliability and speed of the race-cars, forces Jarrier’s switch to the new ATS team in 1977. Again, not the very best decision for Jarrier. The cars weren’t reliable.
JPS Lotus
With the unfortunate death of Ronnie Peterson, a seat became available at the JPS Lotus team. Jean-Pierre Jarier took his opportunity with both hands. He took pole position in Canada and led the race before being forced to retire with an oil leak. It was enough to earn him a two-year deal at Tyrrell during which he managed to collect a couple of third places. Later Jarier moved to Ligier and Osella. In 1983 he retired from F1 racing. Despite making 133 starts and being a Grand Prix driver for 12 years, Jean-Pierre never tasted the taste of victory
Jean-Pierre Jarier Sports Car Racing Career
During his career as a single-seater racer, Jean-Pierre Jarier showed his versatility by competing in other races too. In 1971, he drives a Ford Escort at the 500km Nürburgring. His first participation in the Le Mans 24H is in 1972, sharing the wheel of a Ferrari 365 GTB/4 with Claude Buchet. The first race of Jarier in a Porsche is immediate succes. Together with Raymand Jouroul, Jean-Pierre Jarier wins the 1977 6H Dakar in a Porsche Carrera RS 3.0 (Chassis #9107). That succes is probably the spark that ignites a latent passion for Porsche.
Porsche 962C – Jean-Pierre Jarier, Mike Thackwell & Franz Conrad at Tetre Rouge at the 1985 Le Mans
Jean-Pierre Jarier and Porsche
However it takes another 2 years, before Jarrier jumps in another Porsche. This time, Jarier is less lucky In a Porsche 935, together with Raymond Touroul and Randy Townsend, they quit the race in the 5th hour of the race with a broken engine. In 1984, Jarier competes in the Le Mans 24H in a Porsche 956 from the Kremer Racing Team, teaming up with Vern Schuppan and Allan Jones. The trio finishes 6th. One year later, Jarrier takes another seat in a Group C Porsche 962C from the same team at the 24H Le Mans. They finish 9th. In 1988, Jarier teams up with Brian Redman and Eje Eghi in a Porsche 962C from the Takefuji-Schuppan Racing Team with a 10th overall as a result.
In 1993, Jean-Pierre Jarier wins the 24H Spa for the Roock Porsche Racing Team. He shared the wheel of a Porsche 964 Carrera RSR with Christian Fittipaldi and Uwe Alzen. That race was redflagged after 15 hours following the demise of the King of Belgium. The race was a victorious parade for Porsche, with no less than 9 out of 10 Porsches in the top 10. That made it a ‘Nobody’s perfect’ day again for Porsche, just as the 1983 24H Le Mans.
In 1994, Jean-Pierre Jarier has luck on his side. He walks away unscathed from a helicopter accident in the south west of France. Later Jean-Pierre Jarier continues racing Porsches. Mainly he drives the Porsche 911 GT2 for different teams like Larbre Compétion, Roock Porsche Racing, Sonauto Levallois and occasionally for the Freisinger Motorsport Team. In 199, Jean-Pierre Jarier retires from racing.
