Ligier Automobiles: Ligier is a French automobile and minibus maker created by former racing driver and rugby player Guy Ligier, specialized in the manufacturing of microcars. Ligier is best known for its involvement in the Formula 1 World Championship between 1976 and 1996. In collaboration with Automobiles Martini, the Ligier-Martini entity offered sports prototypes used in endurance or hillclimbing (CN).
After the announcement of the creation of the new category LMP3 by the ACO, Ligier and Martini associated with Onroak Automotive (the manufacturer department of OAK Racing) to offer a full range of prototypes (CN, LMP3, LMP1 and LMP2).
History
1969-1970:
LIGIER JS1, The First Ligier Creation: Presented at the Paris Salon in 1969, the Ligier JS was Guy Ligier’s first creation as a manufacturer. It was made of a polyester body designed on a backbone designed by Michel Tetu, and equipped with a Ford engine. Its first participation was at the Criterium of the Cevennes, but Guy Ligier had to retire due to problems with the lights and a weak engine support. After various evolutions and a victory in Albi in March, the participation in the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1970 registered the name of a Ligier car for the first time in theannals of the famous Le Mans event.
1971-1974:
LIGIER JS3: The First Open Car. An open two-seater with a chassis designed by Michel Tetu, the Ligier JS3 was presented at Vichy on the 15th of March 1971. It was made in France during the 24 hours of the year. Le Mans before getting its first victory at Montlhery at the end of April in the same year.
1975-1976:
2nd Place for the Ligier JS2 at the 24 hours of le mans. its career, for road or competition, the Ligier JS2 made its track debut in 1972, with three models lined up on the grid of the 24 Hours of Le Mans of that year. Racked up a sporting career on different terrains, from endurance circuits to rally tracks. After the victory at the Tour de France in 1974, with a Maserati V6 engine, in 1975 it got its best result in the classic the Mans race: the 5 Ligier JS2-Ford DVF, driven by Lafosse and Chasseuil took second place at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
1976-1978:
Arrival in formula 1 with the Ligier JS5: The Ligier JS5 was presented at the end of 1975, and featured a 21 year long manufacturer and team, counting 326 Grand Prix, marked by 50 podiums including 9 victories. Equipped with a V12 Matra engine and sporting the famous Gitanes blue livery. The JS5 Ligier is aesthetically akin to its rivals, namely its recognizable. His steering wheel was entrusted to Jacques Lafitte. Guy Ligier, and his cars. Jacques Laffite asked for his first victory at the wheel of the Ligier JS7.
1979-1992:
Success of the Ligier JS11: After its three first seasons in Formula 1. The fourth model of the brand came into play: the Ligier JS11. Equipped with a Ford Cosworth engine and Goodyear tires, Gérard Ducarouge’s creation showed great potential. It won the most success with the pole position and three victories during the 1979 season. The two following versions, the Ligier JS11 / 15-Ford-Goodyear and the Ligier JS17-Matra-Michelin continued this momentum and the brand had its best sporting years between 1979 and 1981.
F1 World vice champion with the ligier JS11/5: As with the previous model, the Ligier JS11/15 was equipped with the Ford Cos worth engine and Goodyear tyres. The brand had its best result in the Formula 1 World Championship that year with a second place in the manufacturers classification, behind Williams and ahead of Brabham. This Vice-Champion title was won thanks namely to the victories in the German and Belgian GP with the Ligier JS11/15, respectively driven by Jacques Laffite and Didier Pironi.
1993-1995:
Return to the podium with the LIGIER JS39. After successful years from 1979 to 1981. Ligier’s story in Formula 1 saw a more mixed decade without gaining any significant results apart from a few podiums in 1985 and 1986. Guy Ligier decided to leave the management of the project in 1992, just before the brand made its return to the podium three times in 1993 with the Ligier JS39. Flavio Briatore bought up the Ligier team the following year.
1996-2004:
Victory of the Ligier JS43 at the monaco GP. 27th and final model of the brand, the Ligier JS43 restored Ligier’s acclaim by winning the Monaco Grand Prix in 1996. The victory of the #9 Ligier JS43, equipped with a Mugen Honda engine and driven by Olivier Panis, acted like a final bow, a way to close Ligier’s Formula 1 story in the most beautiful fashion. In 1997, Alain Prost bought up the Ligier team and gave his name to the single-seaters.
2005-2013:
Return to open cars with the Ligier JS49. In 2004, Guy Ligier bought up the whole of the company from his great friend Tico Martini. The Ligier activities set up in the Magny-Cours workshops and the brand made its return. This time only as manufacturers, with the creation of the Ligier JS 49, a first sport-prototype in the CN category. After the Ligier JS 49, an open car aimed at circuit and hill-climb racing. Guy Ligier’s teams would go on to develop the JS 51 and JS 53 models.
2014-2015:
Birth of the Ligier JS P2. The outcome of a beautiful story of friendship between Guy Ligier and Jacques Nicolet. The joining of the legendary brand and the manufacturer gave birth to a sport-prototype, the Ligier JS P2. It bore the initials JS, out of respect of the history of the brand. The Ligier JS P2 took its first steps on the Bugatti circuit in March. And for its first race entry, three were entered by clients in the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
The three Ligier JS P2 crossed the finish line, and got pole position and second place in the LM P2 category. After winning the world endurance championship in 2015 with a JS P2 chassis. Ligier became the following year the first Frenchmanufacturer to win the 24 Hours of Daytona with the Ligier JS P2. The 12 Hours of Sebring and Petit Le Mans were also won in the same year. Not seen since 1998, these successes saw Ligier join Ferrari in the record for manufacturers having won the three American classics in the same year.
2015-2016:
Success of the Ligier JS P3. Benefitting in its design from its kinship with the Ligier JS P2. The LM P3 chassis presented by Ligier in June 2015 was successful from its first moments on track. The Ligier JS P3 perfectly fulfilled the criteria for the LM P3. A new category created by the ACO, making it easier to access sport-prototypes, combining performance, driving comfort and cost control. The Ligier JS P3 aroused a real enthusiasm from drivers and teams. Two months after attending the launch, being very tired, of the Ligier JS P3 during the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Guy Ligier passed away on the 23rd of August 2015.
2016-2017:
Ligier JS P217, a new-generation LM P2. During the summer of 2015, the ACO, the FIA and IMSA announced the four manufacturers selected to produce the LM P2 that would respond to the new regulations in effect from 2017. The Ligier JS P217 project was born, and the Design Office worked for a year to design the new sport-prototype. On the 23rd of September 2016. The Ligier JS P217 was officially presented at the circuit of Spa Francorchamps, before starting its development program. The 28th of January 2017, the Ligier JS P217 takes its first start. During thelegendary 24 Hours of Daytona and signs the first victory of a new-generation LM P2 at Silverstone in April 2017.
2017:
The Ligier JS P4 Completes the range. In June 2017, the Ligier JS P4 is presented during the 24 Hours o Le Mans week. Closed sport-prototype with a carbon monocoque. This new model adds to the manufacturer’s existing range and places itself between the CN and the LM P3 categories. The Ligier JS P4 aims to allow new drivers and teams to discover driving and running a sport-prototype during endurance races and test days. The Ligier JS F3 is being unveiled in Austin in October 2017. This new single seater complies with the 2018 FIA Formula 3 regulations, and has been selected as the sole
chassis for the Americas F3 Series, which will be introduced in 2018. It marks Ligier’s return to single seater racing. The Crawford F4s produced by Onroak Automotive have been renamed Ligier JS F4s for the F4 U.S. Championship for the 2018 season.
2018:
Ligier JS F3, The new single-seater of the brand Unveiled at the end of 2017 during the American Formula 1 Grand Prix. The Ligier JS F3 complies with the new FIA Formula 3 Regional regulations and integrates the halo system. Equipped with Pirelli tyres and powered by a 2-litre Honda engine pushing out 270 bhp. The Ligier JS F3 is the exclusive car of the new F3 Americas Championship. Different engines can be installed in the Ligier JS F3 and the car is eligible to compete in all the new regional series throughout the world.
Type of Ligier Cars:
Sport Type:
