Jean ragnotti is not only a driver of many faces, and touch all, multi-surface, and the most talented, but also and above all a richness and greatness of soul that makes it one of the French pilots most endearing.

Even today, over 70 years, jean ragnotti has still not turned away from the asphalt. Among its holdings to classical trials and demonstrations on board of his day rally models, it remains as often as possible between the seat and steering wheel.
From the 1960s to the 1990s, the one we nicknamed the "Acrobat" furrowed rallies and circuits.



Jean ragnotti, born August 29, 1945 in Carpentras, takes early passion for motor racing and scored his time of his famous swerve, and its famous handbrake. Prior to being an experienced pilot, he must prove himself. From 6 years old, with his father led the family Renault Juvaquatre. And after passing his driving license at 18, he became a truck driver and saves to buy "the" sports sedan of the moment: a Renault 8 Gordini, it will look directly to the factory. This is his first race car.

From October 1967, Jean begins to skim the races in the South East of France. First race, first podium! Rally at Istres, facing fierce competition, Jean finished third overall, but especially the first in its class. In 1968, after this promising start, jean ragnotti participates, among others, the Renault 8 Gordini Cup. Victories accumulate and it becomes commercial pilot in 1971.

In 1973, Renault Competition offers to take the start of the Monte Carlo Rally at the wheel of the new Renault 12 Gordini.C'est its first contract with the brand. On the circuits, he ran in Formula 3 (1973) and Proto Sport (1974) and incorporates the Formula Renault Europe in 1975, he finished second in the Championship.

It is also a pilot for Alpine, respectively Reunion Tour and the Tour de Corse in Group 4 category, at the wheel of the Alpine A110 and A310.

Circuit driver and rally driver, the same season, front and success. Shine in circuit and rally is a feat that very few managed to achieve simultaneously.

Parallel to his career, Exhaust magazine asked him in 1973 to write articles and the "Journal of Ragnotti" a personal notebook integrated monthly.>

Jeannot at the Movies ...
The swerve of Jannot is noticed by Rémy Julienne: it becomes for many stunt filming in Italy, France and Spain between 1974 and 1981. It embodies including the lining of Alain Delon and Jean-Paul Belmondo. Then he stops stunts on his own and became permanently in the race. In the late 1990s, Luc Besson used its precision steering to carry cars in the saga "Taxi".

The year 1977 is that of the rally consecration official driver of Renault, he honors his contract by winning the championship of France Rallycross Alpine A310 V6, which he won every round!
But 1977 also marks great benefits in circuit whose superb 4th place in the 24 Hours of Le Mans class win GTP on Inaltera Ford; he shared the wheel with Jean Rondeau. They miss the podium for 40 seconds. The beginnings of a great story with it: Jean Rondeau drive a 24 Hours of 1979-1982.

The following year, he drives the Renault Alpine A442 Turbo-the 1978 24 Hours of Le Mans with Guy Fréquelin, Jean-Pierre Jabouille, and José Dolhem. Together, they drop it in fourth place. Jean Bernard Darniche recidivism in 1979, finishing fifth category etpremier Group 6. It also illustrates Touring Car Championship, which he won the title in 1988 at the wheel of the Renault 21 Turbo 4x4.

The rally is more present than ever with two titles of France Champion Rally in 1980 with the Renault 5 Alpine Turbo and 5, and in 1984 with the only Renault 5 Turbo. Winner of the 1984 Tour de France and 1985.

Throughout the twenty-three years of competition, including twenty in Renault company, jean ragnotti aligns forty three rounds of the World Rally Championship. He won the Monte Carlo in 1981 and twice the Tour de Corse in 1982 and 1985. He also writes excellent places, whether at Rallye Côte d'Ivoire, the Acropolis in Greece, or the roads of the Rallye Sanremo. Jean also serious Ragnotti his name in stone Championship Rally of France, with two titles of France Champion and four championship titles in the category 2WD.

Jeannot is finally an extraordinary life in the rally: it is still eighth championship in 1995, at age 50, driving the Renault Clio Maxi! The previous year, he won his last title in 2 wheel drive with the Renault Clio Group A. It also illustrates the ice and participates in the Trophée Andros in 1998 and 1999. He remained faithful to the Renault brand, which makes it one of its ambassadors since 1997.

Close to the public, he never gives to sign an autograph, even a few seconds before the start of a special: " This is my casual side. I have always joked. I never really experienced the pressure. But beware: from the count that gives the start of the race, my concentration becomes maximum.  "

For his outstanding career and popularity, Jeannot plays with panache and talent passion for motorsport.

An iconic figure for many superlatives, a monument, but each believes it is part of his family, compared to the immense usability and near which he has always shown to the public.