Jacques Godard

Jacques Alain Godard (born 7 February 1957 in Paris, France) is a French former racing driver and team owner, best known for his time in the Dywa Grand Prix Series. Between 1978 and 1980 he was known under his racing pseudonym "Michel Vaillant". While not particularly known for his qualifying prowess, Godard's racecraft and consistency were a strong point already from his Dywa stint and more so during the rest of his career.

Godard was a fairly talented driver in his karting days, and moved to the Dywa Grand Prix Series for his first taste of open-wheel racing. His father was a friend of the comic's creator Jean Graton, and to aid Jacques' career, Graton agreed to sponsor his team with the caveat being that Jacques would drive under the pseudonym of "Michel Vaillant", complete with the famous blue helmet. Driving in 1978 for Vaillante Équipe Dywa France, Godard initially struggled in qualifying; however in round 2 of the season at Imola, he produced a remarkable drive to win the race after starting from 26th (and last) place on the grid.

Disillusioned with the lack of safety in Dywa GP, the Frenchman considered leaving for sportscars at the end of the 1978 season, however he agreed to race a partial schedule in his sophomore year alongside a full-time gig in European Formula 3 in 1979. Later that year, Godard took part in three rounds of the 1979 BMW M1 Procar Championship for Gilden Kölsch Racing, with hopes of making the full schedule in 1980.

At the end of 1980, Godard - now fully convinced about making a solid motorsports career - dropped his alias and started racing under his real name. He eventually competed in a total of six Formula One races, scoring two points after a 5th place finish at the 1981 Caesars Palace Grand Prix, driving for Renault. His open-wheel racing career came to a premature end after a horrific crash in the 1983 Swiss Grand Prix, when he rejoined right in the path of race leader Alain Prost and got hit on the left side of his Ligier at an estimated 230 km/h (140 mph). Godard suffered severe injuries, completely shattering the bones on his lower left leg, which had to be amputated below the knee, among other injuries to the lower part of his body. He spent eight days in a medically-induced coma and left the hospital after six weeks. Prost also suffered injuries, amongst them breaking both his feet in the impact, and missed the next four rounds. After numerous operations and intense physiotherapy, Godard was able to resume his racing career in early 1986 with the aid of a prosthesis on his affected leg, albeit with slightly different controls as Godard was now unable to use his left foot.

While initially having a somewhat lukewarm relationship due to their different upbringings, Godard and his Dywa France teammate Tim Floc'h eventually became very good friends (also pairing up for Le Mans on several occasions) and formed FG Compétition in 1989. That year they entered the French Supertouring Championship with Godard at the wheel and with the aim to move to the World Touring Car Masters within five years. Eventually, Godard made his WTCM debut in 1993; he paid homage to his former identity by running their first race in a Vaillante-sponsored car.

After his adventure in touring cars, Godard returned to GT racing with spells in the FFSA GT Championship and the FIA GT Championship. He retired from motorsport in 2004.

Results

Dywa Grand Prix Series

Season	Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	Pts	Pos
1978	Vaillante Équipe Dywa France	PER 15	IMO 1	ROU 8	NOR 19	SYR 17	MUG 15	PAU 7	CAS 3	CHA 17	MNZ 11						14	6th
1979	Vaillante Équipe Dywa	PER 1	IMO 23	ROU	THR	MAI	MUG	SYR	PAU	GRO 2	HAL	BIK	KEI 23	CAS 5	CHA	MNZ 1	28	4th

Formula One

Year	Entrant	Chassis	Engine	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	Points	WDC
1981	Équipe Renault Elf	Renault RE30	Renault-Gordini EF1 1.5 V6t	ARG	RSA	BRA	USW	ESP	BEL	MON	SMR	MEX	FRA	GBR	GER	AUT	EUR	ITA Ret	CAN 10	CPL 5	2	22nd
1982	Ligier Gitanes	Ligier JS15	Renault EF1 1.5 V6t	RSA	BRA	USW	SMR	BEL	MON	MEX	DET	FRA	GBR 9	GER 9	AUT	EUR	ITA	CAN	CPL		0	26th
1983	Ligier Gitanes	Ligier JS15M	BMW M12/13 1.5 L4t	RSA	BRA	SMR	BEL	SUI ENT	MON	MEX	DET	FRA	GBR	GER	AUT	ITA	EUR	CAN	NYC		0	-