Jean Ragnotti

Jean "Jeannot" Ragnotti, is a French former rally driver for Renault in the World Rally Championship.
Ranking among his achievements are his conquering of the Monte Carlo Rally in 1981 [World Rally Championship season|1981], what was the first turbo victory in the history of the WRC, alongside compatriot Jean-Marc Andrié against the might of the ultimate four-wheel-drive upstart, the Audi Quattro. In the 1982 World [Rally Championship season|following season], he took his Renault 5 Turbo to victory at the Tour de Corse. Jean Marc Andrie later committed suicide in 1999. The Maxi version of the same Renault 5 was to reign again on the asphalt stages of European rallying, when in 1985 [World Rally Championship season|1985], Ragnotti claimed the Tour de Corse again with Group B rallying at its zenith; a win that came on debut of Renault 5 Maxi Turbo. His co-driver by that time was Pierre Thimonier. Pierre Thimonier died of cancer in 2008. The 1985 Rothmans Tour de Corse would also prove to be a tragic affair after the fatal crash of Attilio Bettega on SS4 of the event.
In the 1990s, Ragnotti continued to drive for Renault, this time in their front-wheel drive Clio Maxi.