Jean Ragnotti | Rally Group B Shrine

INTRODUCTION

Jean “Jeannot” Ragnotti (born August 29th 1945), is a French former rally driver for Renault in the World Rally Championship. He is one of the first in a long line of famed French tarmac specialists. Jean also had a side career as a circuit racing driver and participated in many 24 Hours of LeMans events. Ragnotti would claim three World Rally Championship victories over his career, all gained at the wheel of Renault 5 Turbos – his signature car.

QUICK BROWSE CONTENT

PERSONAL SUMMARY (WRC)
RALLY BIOGRAPHY
GROUP B RESULTS (WRC)
WRC VICTORIES
AWARDS / ACHIEVEMENTS
GALLERY
VIDEOS
REFERENCES

PERSONAL SUMMARY (WRC)

Personal information
Nationality	French
Born	August 29th, 1945 Pernes-les-Fontains
World Rally Championship record
Active years	1973~1987, 1990~1995
Teams	Renault
Rallies	41
Championships	0
Rally wins	3
Podiums	9
Stage wins	90
Total points	190
First rally	1973 Monte Carlo Rally
First win	1981 Monte Carlo Rally
Last win	1985 Tour de Corse
Last rally	1995 Tour de Corse

RALLY BIOGRAPHY

(under construction)

Early Career

At age 15, Jean Ragnotti begins competing in tractor obstacle courses. His true entry into competition in 1967 is in a regional race at the Miramas circuit, followed the same year by participating in the Rally Oil Istres with an R8 Gordini where he finished third overall and first in Group 2.

Career

The year 1968 finally launched his career. He participated in the rally Vaucluse, the Mistral rally, then in the Gordini Cup. He also was at Dijon-Longvic, to participate in the first round of the Coupe de France.

Encouraged by his excellent first season, in 1969, he enrolled again at the rally Vaucluse, where he replaced Franck Alesi’s father, John, who had the flu. Then he goes on winning the Ventouxdans Hillclimb for the under 1300 cc class. It was during this year that he temporarily leaves Renault to join the Opel stable. He finished his season at the wheel of an Opel Kadett Rallye 1900.

His 1970 season was even more prolific; He participated in his first rally in Monte Carlo, finishing eleventh overall and first in Group 1. Jeannot continued his momentum by participating in the Opel Commodore GSE Auto Tour and the Mont Blanc Rally where he ranks fifth overall and first in group 1. He concluded his season by rallying the Cevennes finishing fifth overall and first in group 1. He is then ranked second in the rally championship of France and fourth in the European Championship.

In 1977, he finished fourth in the 24 Hours of Le Mans with team-mate Jean Rondeau driving an Inaltera LM77, and winning their class (GTP). The following year, he competed alongside Guy Fréquelin and Jean-Pierre Jabouille driving a Renault Alpine A442, finishing fourth again. In 1979, he finished fifth with Bernard Darniche (three successive years in the top five).

In 1980, he participated in the Paris-Dakar rally driving a Volkswagen Iltis and finished ninth in the race. He also ran the 1986 event in a Range Rover.

In 1981 and 1984, he became France rally champion. During that period, he sparingly participated in select WRC events as a tarmac specialist.

In 1985, in addition to his victory rally of the 24 Hours of Ypres, he headed to the top of the European Rally Championship. He also won his home WRC event at the Tour de Corse, driving a Renault 5 Maxi turbo.

PARTIAL SOURCE: Wikipedia (1) + (2)

(possibly spell-checked, translated, and/or edited; abridged, corrected, and/or expanded)

GROUP B RESULTS (WRC)

(# = finish position / R = retired or DNF / – = did not compete)

Y	TEAM	EVENT												PTS
Y	TEAM	MC	SE	PT	KE	FR	GR	NZ	BR	FI	IT	CI	GB	PTS
82	Renault	–	–	–	–	1	–	–	–	–	–	R	–	20

Y	Team	Event												pts
Y	Team	MC	SE	PT	KE	FR	GR	NZ	AR	FI	IT	CI	GB	pts
83	Renault	7	–	–	–	R	R	–	–	–	–	–	–	4
84	Renault	–	–	5	–	3	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	20
85	Renault	–	–	–	–	1	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	20
86	Renault	–	–	–	–	*	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	US-
86													pts	*