Ligier Automotive Becomes Majority Shareholder of Mygale: Ushering in a New Era for French Formula Racing
In late December 2024, Ligier Automotive, the French race car manufacturer, became the majority shareholder of Mygale. This acquisition marks a pivotal moment for both companies, headquartered in Magny-Cours.* Together, they aim to elevate French expertise in formula racing by offering an expanded lineup of race cars.
A Strengthened Partnership and Enhanced Synergies
Ligier Automotive has been a minority shareholder of Mygale since 2013. Over the past decade, the two companies have fostered numerous synergies, combining their expertise to develop innovative solutions in formula racing. With this majority stake, Ligier Automotive is poised to deepen its footprint in the formula market and expand its global reach.
Jacques Nicolet, President of Ligier Automotive, shared: “Becoming the majority shareholder of Mygale allows us to unite two complementary forces, creating a stronger and more ambitious player in formula racing. Our goal is to deliver a more cohesive offering under the Ligier brand while continuing to innovate and expand our global presence.”
Consolidating a Global Presence
Through its U.S. subsidiary, Ligier Automotive North America, Ligier is already a key player in the formula market in the United States, with its Ligier JS F3, Ligier JS F422, and Ligier JS F4 single-seaters competing in series such as FIA FR Americas, the FIA F4 U.S. Championship, and the Ligier JS F4 Series. Meanwhile, Mygale has established itself in F4 championships in France, China, and India. This acquisition unites the F4 championships of these four countries under one banner, solidifying Ligier Automotive's position as a leading force in formula racing.
All Mygale race cars will gradually be rebranded as Ligier, creating a unified and iconic offering.
The first milestone of this strengthened collaboration will be the development and unveiling of the Ligier JS F326 in 2025. This next-generation single-seater will comply with FIA FR 2026 regulations and be eligible for FR championships worldwide starting in 2026.
A Shared Vision for the Future
Bertrand Decoster, founder of Mygale, remains fully committed to this new chapter as Managing Director : “This step ensures the continuity of 35 years of development and success in formula racing. Beyond that, joining forces with Ligier Automotive allows us to grow into a company of over 130 motorsport specialists, enabling us to target all formula racing markets.”
Mygale's production capabilities will now complement Ligier Automotive's, ensuring the combined entity can meet the needs of automotive manufacturers for subcontracting projects.
*Ligier Automotive also operates a second facility in Amilly, specializing in the design and production of concept cars, prototypes, and special vehicles for major car constructors.
Ligier Automotive
Ligier Automotive is a manufacturer based in France (Magny-Cours, Amilly) and the United States (Denver, North Carolina), with around a hundred employees. It offers one of the widest ranges of racing cars marketed under the same brand: from sport-prototypes (Ligier JS P4, Ligier JS P3, Ligier JS P320, Ligier JS P325, Ligier JS P2, Ligier JS P217, Ligier Nissan DPi), to single-seaters (Ligier JS F3, Ligier JS F4 and Ligier JS F422) and GTs with the Ligier JS2 R. Since 2014, it has built nearly 650 racing cars. Ligier Automotive is the first and only manufacturer since Ferrari in 1998 to have won the 24 Hours of Daytona, the 12 Hours of Sebring and Petit Le Mans in the same year, and the only French carmaker to have won the 24 Hours of Daytona overall.
Ligier Automotive is also the preferred partner of major carmakers for the design and production of their hypercars, concept cars and special vehicles.
Ligier Automotive also has a classic department, Ligier Classic, responsible for restoring historic vehicles from the Ligier and Martini Automobiles brands, as well as other iconic motorsport brands.
Ligier Automotive is part of the Everspeed Group, a leading industrial player in the automotive and mobility sector. Everspeed employs some 750 people in Europe and the United States in three main areas of activity: (i) the design and manufacture of structural and complex carbon-fibre parts, mainly for the automotive sector with its Italian subsidiary HP Composites based in Ascoli Piceno, (ii) tailor-made training services in the automotive and new energies sectors with the French company Ecodime based in Levallois-Perret, and (iii) the design and construction of cars, mules and concept cars for carmakers and racing teams at Ligier Automotive.
About Mygale
For over 35 years, MYGALE has built a strong reputation by designing and manufacturing more than 1,500 race cars, primarily single-seaters, competing on five continents. The company has developed cars for major automotive manufacturers—including Formula BMW, Peugeot Spider, and Formula Renault Campus—as well as for its own projects, such as Formula Ford, Formula 3, USF2000, FF200, FIA Formula 4, and Formula Regional.
Based at the Technopole of the Nevers Magny-Cours circuit, Mygale employs over 40 people and operates subsidiaries in the United States and China.
Mygale has played a key role in the early careers of numerous top drivers, including Jenson Button, Kimi Räikkönen, Nico Rosberg, Sebastian Vettel, Oscar Piastri, Carlos Sainz, Nico Hülkenberg, Lando Norris, Colton Herta, Simon Pagenaud, Nick Tandy, and Kévin Estre.
As a major partner in the FIA's single-seater development ladder, Mygale has supplied over 400 Formula 4 and Formula Regional cars worldwide, particularly for the French, Chinese, and Indian championships.
In the past five years, Mygale has expanded into the design and production of FIA Cross Car off-road racing vehicles and race cars for driver training schools.
With high-level engineering and manufacturing expertise, a modern facility, advanced equipment, and an ISO 9001 certification maintained for over 15 years, Mygale also provides mechanical and composite manufacturing services for the motorsport divisions of leading European carmakers.
For more information on Mygale, visit their website: https://www.mygale-cars.com/