Legends of Le Mans: Ligier’s historic sports prototypes are still racing
There was never any question of these historic Ligiers becoming static museum pieces. The inaugural Legends of Le Mans season came to a close on November 6-7, 2026, at Monza, following four events at Imola, Spa-Francorchamps, Le Mans and the Italian circuit. Created by Peter Auto in collaboration with the Automobile Club de l'Ouest and Le Mans Endurance Management, the series brought a new generation of historic racing to the track, with LMP1, LMP2 and GTE machinery from the 2000s and 2010s back in competition. Among them were several sports prototypes developed in the workshops that now form Ligier Automotive. The first season delivered plenty of action, with 11 podium finishes and two LMP2 victories.
From the OAK Pescarolo to the Ligier JS P2
OAK Pescarolo LMP1 and LMP2, Morgan LMP2, Ligier JS P2. Throughout the season, several generations of sports prototypes born in the Ligier workshops returned to racing.
The standout event was Le Mans Classic, held from July 2 to 5. Seven prototypes from those workshops lined up together in Grid 10 — Legends of Le Mans, bringing nearly a decade of endurance prototype know-how back to the Circuit de la Sarthe.
And these cars were not there just for show.
Alexandre Leroy set the tone in the opening race by winning the LMP2 category with the #28 Ligier JS P2. Across the weekend's three races, the same car topped the LMP2 classification overall, ahead of François Heriau in the #21 OAK Pescarolo.
The Ligier JS P2, the car that relaunched the story
Among all these models, the Ligier JS P2 holds a special place.
Unveiled in 2014, it marked Ligier's return to endurance racing and to the 24 Hours of Le Mans following Jacques Nicolet's revival of the brand. The impact was immediate: on its Le Mans debut, the car took LMP2 pole position and finished second in class.
That opening performance was only the beginning.
In 2015, the Ligier JS P2 claimed the LMP2 title in the FIA World Endurance Championship. Then came 2016, a landmark year that brought overall victories at the 24 Hours of Daytona — a first for a French manufacturer — the 12 Hours of Sebring and Petit Le Mans.
From 2014 to 2016, the Ligier JS P2 collected wins and podium finishes across the FIA WEC, IMSA and Asian Le Mans Series. But its place in Ligier's history goes well beyond the results sheet. It was the car that put the brand firmly back on the international endurance racing map and helped establish Ligier as one of the reference manufacturers in sports prototype racing.
Legends of Le Mans is now giving the car another chapter to write.
Jacques Nicolet reunites with “his” Ligier JS P2
Ligier Automotive President Jacques Nicolet is also a passionate gentleman driver, and during three of the four rounds of this inaugural Legends of Le Mans season, he returned to the wheel of the #26 Ligier JS P2.
After Imola and Le Mans, Monza provided the final outing of the year. In Race 1, held in wet conditions, Nicolet finished third in LMP2. In Race 2, he set the fastest time among the Ligier JS P2s entered.
“This first Legends of Le Mans season was a real success. The calendar was fantastic, and the atmosphere captured exactly what we look for in historic racing: passion, shared enthusiasm and genuine respect for the cars and their history.
“I had a huge amount of fun at Monza, especially in the rain. The Ligier JS P2 is very easy and enjoyable to drive. It had been a long time since I had enjoyed myself that much behind the wheel of a race car.
“The two-day format also works very well. Of course, when you love driving, you always wish you had a little more track time!”
Ligier Classic: keeping history alive on track
The fact that these cars are still racing today also owes a great deal to Ligier Classic.
Based in Magny-Cours in the former workshops of Guy Ligier and Tico Martini, the department specializes in restoring, maintaining, preparing and running historic race cars.
Several of the prototypes that competed this season were prepared by the Ligier Classic teams before returning to the track.
And the support goes far beyond restoration. Ligier Classic works with owners over the long term, providing maintenance, trackside technical support and the spare parts required to keep these cars in active use.
Several Ligier JS P2s are also still available for sale. Collectors, gentlemen drivers or enthusiasts looking to buy, restore or return a historic model to the track can contact Ligier Classic directly at contact@ligierautomotive.com.
That work ensures these OAK Pescarolo, Morgan and Ligier JS P2 prototypes remain more than pieces of history on display. They were built to race — and that is exactly what they are still doing.
