Grand Prix de France Historique: Two Ligier JS P2s entered by IDEC Sport
19 April 2024 - The French manufacturer's LMP2 cars continue to tour the historic championship circuits. After their successful demonstration at the Gulf Historic Dubai GP Revival last December, the Ligier JS P2s are ready to battle it out on the Paul Ricard circuit in France as part of the Masters Endurance Legends with the French team IDEC Sport.
For a number of years now, Ligier Automotive's classic department has been giving a second lease of life to the racing cars that have marked its history as a manufacturer (Ligier JS2, Ligier JS P2, Ligier JS P3, Martini*, Pescarolo LM P1 and LM P2, Morgan LM P2**) by overhauling them and running them in historic races on its own behalf or alongside its customers.
Last December, the Ligier JS P2s, the first generation of Ligier LMP2s, were on show at the Gulf Historic Dubai GP Revival (read the article HERE).
These sport-prototypes, now considered 'historic', have a track record to be envied, including pole position and second place in the 24 Hours of Le Mans in their inaugural year in 2014, the LMP2 title in the World Endurance Championship in 2015 and overall wins in the 24 Hours of Daytona, 12 Hours of Sebring and Petit Le Mans in 2016. It was with this model that Ligier Automotive made history, becoming the first and only French manufacturer to win the Daytona 24 Hours overall and the first manufacturer since Ferrari in 1996 to win all three of these major American races in the same year.
At the Gulf Historic Dubai GP Revival, their success continued with a podium finish in Race 1 and victory in Race 2, ahead of an LMP1 (read the article HERE).
The Ligier JS P2s will be back on track from 19 to 21 April on the Le Castellet circuit for the Grand Prix de France Historique. The French team IDEC Sport will be fielding two Ligier JS P2s with two outstanding gentlemen drivers: Patrice Lafargue in the #28 and Jacques Nicolet in the #22.
Among the 23 entries in the Masters Endurance Legends category, two other Ligiers will also be taking part: a Ligier JS P3 (the first generation LMP3 Ligier from 2015) and a Ligier JS P217 (the second generation LMP2 Ligier from 2017).
The Masters Endurance Legends will kick off on Friday 19 April at 11.40am with a first 30-minute qualifying session, followed by a second 30-minute session also at 3.55pm. The first 40-minute race will take place on Saturday 20 April at 9.20am and the second on Sunday 21 April at 10.10am.
More information
The Grand Prix de France Historique, CLICK HERE.
The Ligier JS P2, CLICK HERE.
IDEC Sport, CLICK HERE.
Photo Credit
Gulf Historic Dubaï GP Revival