Ligier Automotive Celebrates 50 Years Since the Brand’s Formula 1 Debut at the KENNOL Grand Prix de France Historique.
From May 8 to 10, 2026, during the KENNOL Grand Prix de France Historique at Circuit Paul Ricard, Ligier Automotive will celebrate two major anniversaries in its racing history: 50 years since Ligier made its Formula 1 debut in 1976, and 30 years since Olivier Panis' victory at the 1996 Monaco Grand Prix.
Founded in 1969 by Guy Ligier, the Ligier brand now boasts more than 55 years of history. Its involvement in Formula 1, which began in 1976, left a lasting mark on French motorsport. For 20 years and 21 seasons, Ligier flew the French flag at the highest level of global motorsport, with iconic cars, renowned drivers and victories that have gone down in history.
Among them, Olivier Panis' win in Monaco on May 19, 1996, remains one of the most memorable. Thirty years later, this historic success will be at the heart of the celebrations organized by Ligier Automotive at the KENNOL Grand Prix de France Historique.
For the occasion, Ligier Automotive will present an exceptional program at Circuit Paul Ricard, bringing together historic cars, contemporary models, never-before-seen technical components, driver meet-and-greets and on-track parades.
Eight Cars to Tell More Than 55 Years of Ligier History
At the heart of the event, eight cars will be on display to retrace the history of Ligier, from its early days in endurance racing to its Formula 1 involvement and the brand's modern revival.
Four historic Formula 1 cars will be presented: the Ligier JS9, Ligier JS11/15, Ligier JS27 and Ligier JS33B. They illustrate different periods of Ligier's Formula 1 adventure, from the late 1970s to the early 1990s.
Two GT cars will bridge the gap between past and present: the Ligier JS2, an emblematic model in the brand's history, and the Ligier JS2 RS, the latest evolution of the JS2 family developed by Ligier Automotive.
Two sports prototypes will represent Ligier's revival in endurance racing: the Ligier JS PX, Ligier Automotive's first one-off model, and the Ligier JS P325, the third generation of Ligier LMP3 prototypes.
A photo timeline will complete the exhibition, bringing the great moments of Ligier's history back to life, from the creation of the brand to its current involvement in some of the world's leading motorsport disciplines.
Historical notes on each of the cars on display can be found at the end of this press release.
An Exceptional F1 Workshop with Michel Beaujon
Ligier Automotive will also offer a one-of-a-kind F1 workshop dedicated to the brand's technical heritage. Visitors will have the opportunity to discover historic parts rarely shown to the public, including molds, bodywork components, a wind tunnel model and components from Ligier's Formula 1 adventure.
The workshop will be led by Michel Beaujon, Ligier's historic chief engineer, who supported the brand throughout its development in GT racing and later in Formula 1. His insight will shine a light on the work of the teams, the design methods of the period and the technical intensity required to compete at the highest level of global motorsport.
“Ligier Formula 1 was a technical adventure, but above all it was a human adventure, said Michel Beaujon. We designed, built and developed the cars with the total commitment of the entire team. Each part displayed here tells a piece of that often invisible work: that of the engineers, draftsmen, mechanics, modelers and workshop teams. Presenting these elements to the public, 50 years after Ligier's F1 debut, is also a way to pay tribute to everyone who built this 21-season history of uninterrupted presence. The Ligier name would leave Formula 1 circuits with a strong record of nine wins, 10 pole positions, nine fastest race laps and 50 podiums. A huge thank you to Guy, to the many drivers who made this record possible and to all the team members who contributed to it.”
Ligier Cars on Track with Olivier Panis, Jacques Laffite, Jann Mardenborough, Julien Fébreau, Jacques Nicolet and Philippe Ligier
The weekend will also feature several highlights on track.
Olivier Panis and Jacques Laffite will take part in the Fast & Famous parades behind the wheel of two Formula 1 cars: the Ligier JS33B and the Ligier JS11/15.
In addition to the Fast & Famous parades, two Ligier parades will be held on Saturday and Sunday. They will bring together the historic Formula 1 cars and several of the brand's endurance cars, driven in particular by Jacques Nicolet, Philippe Ligier, Jann Mardenborough and Julien Fébreau.
Attending with GPX, Jann Mardenborough will be reunited with the Ligier JS PX, a model he knows particularly well, having driven it for the stunt scenes of the actor portraying him in the film Gran Turismo, inspired by his journey from sim racer to professional driver. Julien Fébreau, amateur racing driver and Formula 1 commentator, who is familiar with the Ligier world after having driven a Ligier JS2 R on several occasions, will take the wheel of recent models from the brand.
Several drivers who have left their mark on Ligier history will be present throughout the weekend, including Olivier Panis, Jacques Laffite, René Arnoux and Philippe Alliot. Their presence will directly echo the single-seaters on display, as highlighted in the historical notes at the end of this press release. Interviews will be organized with these personalities to revisit their memories, their connection with Ligier and the great moments of the brand's Formula 1 history.
A signing session for the comic book Antoine le Pilote – Album 19, Grand Prix de Las Vegas will also be held with Yvon Amiel.
A Story to Pass On, a Legacy to Keep Alive
This celebration marks an important moment for Ligier Automotive, which continues the story begun by Guy Ligier by developing race cars competing in a wide range of disciplines: sports prototypes, GT cars, single-seaters and cross cars.
“Celebrating 50 years since Ligier's Formula 1 debut and 30 years since Olivier Panis' victory in Monaco is a very powerful moment for Ligier Automotive, commented Jacques Nicolet, President of Ligier Automotive. Ligier's history is built on boldness, passion, loyalty and commitment. Our role is to keep this legacy alive, to pass it on to new generations and to continue writing this story through the cars we design today. Bringing together historic Formula 1 cars, GT cars, endurance sports prototypes, drivers and the people who shaped Ligier at the KENNOL Grand Prix de France Historique is a very tangible way to show that this history is still moving forward.”
Philippe Ligier, son of Guy Ligier, will also take part in the celebration by providing two Ligier Formula 1 cars as well as the historic elements presented in the F1 workshop. Through his memories, he looks back on the birth of Ligier's Formula 1 adventure, decided by Guy Ligier in the aftermath of the team's podium finish at the 1975 24 Hours of Le Mans:
“It was in 1975. We had just finished second at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. As we were walking to the ACO reception room, he smiled and said to me: ‘We're going to set up a Formula 1 team, building on Matra's withdrawal.' He said it just like that, as if he had said: ‘Tomorrow, we're going fishing!' It took me a few minutes to realize that he had been working on his plan for quite some time. And that's how the adventure began!”
For the KENNOL Grand Prix de France Historique, this Ligier celebration fully reflects the purpose of the event: to bring the great moments of motorsport back to life and allow the public to reconnect, both on track and in the paddock, with the cars and personalities that shaped history. As Laurent Vallery-Masson, Director of HVM and promoter of the event, explains:
“The KENNOL Grand Prix de France Historique continues to bring history into the present by reviving Formula 1's greatest moments. This year, it was only natural to give Ligier a special place, as the brand brought France to the very top of world motorsport. Celebrating Olivier Panis' victory exactly 30 years ago, in May 1996, and seeing Jacques Laffite back behind the wheel of the car with which he fought for the 1980 Formula 1 World Championship will be unforgettable moments that we wanted to share with the fans.
With Ligier Automotive and our partner Red Runner, we have been able to create a major exhibition at the heart of the paddock to bring together the Ligier family as well as the drivers, engineers and mechanics.
Because Ligier continues to make France shine, the KENNOL Grand Prix de France Historique had to make Ligier shine.”
Over three days, the KENNOL Grand Prix de France Historique will offer a unique immersion into the world of Ligier: a French brand born from a passion for competition, involved in Formula 1 for 21 seasons, recognized in endurance racing and still active today in the development of race cars.
Notes on the Cars on Display
Ligier JS2 – 1973
The successor to the JS1, the first car designed by Guy Ligier in tribute to Jo Schlesser, the JS2 marked Ligier's early days in endurance racing. Developed as a sports prototype, it notably achieved a one-two finish in the 1974 Tour de France Automobile and finished second at the 1975 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Ligier JS9 – 1978
Designed by Gérard Ducarouge, Michel Beaujon and Robert Choulet, the JS9 embodies Ligier's early Formula 1 years, following the brand's debut in the discipline in 1976 and its first Grand Prix victory with Jacques Laffite in Sweden in 1977.
Ligier JS11/15 – 1980
A symbol of Ligier's golden age in Formula 1, the JS11/15 belongs to the period when the French team fought at the front of the World Championship and became runner-up in the Constructors' World Championship in 1980.
Ligier JS27 – 1986
Designed by Michel Tétu, Michel Beaujon and Claude Galopin, the JS27 remains one of the last Ligier cars to play a leading role in Formula 1, with Jacques Laffite finishing third in Brazil and second in Detroit in 1986. The three drivers who raced it at the time — Jacques Laffite, René Arnoux and Philippe Alliot — will be present at the KENNOL Grand Prix de France Historique.
Ligier JS33B – 1990
Built at the Magny-Cours factory, the JS33B reflects a more difficult period in Ligier's Formula 1 history, marked by transitional seasons and several changes in engine supplier. Philippe Alliot, who drove the JS33B in 1990, will be reunited with the model at Paul Ricard.
Ligier JS PX – 2021
Ligier Automotive's first one-off model, the Ligier JS PX was presented in 2021 to celebrate the fifth anniversary of the Ligier JS P2's American triple crown in 2016: the 24 Hours of Daytona, the 12 Hours of Sebring and Petit Le Mans. It later became the star car of the film Gran Turismo, inspired by the true story of Jann Mardenborough.
Ligier JS P325 – 2025
Introduced in competition in 2025, the Ligier JS P325 embodies the third generation of Ligier LMP3 prototypes. Already crowned champion three times in different championships, it continues the story of a benchmark endurance racing range, with more than 350 LMP3 cars produced by Ligier across all generations.
Ligier JS2 RS – 2026
Presented in July 2025, the Ligier JS2 RS opens a new chapter in Ligier's GT history. Heir to the legendary JS2 and continuing the line of the Ligier JS2 R and JS2 RH2, it represents a new generation of GT race car with a carbon monocoque, a 3.5-liter Ford EcoBoost V6 engine producing 650 hp and a top speed of 290 km/h. It makes its competition debut this year in the GT2 European Series and Ultimate Cup Series, where it took pole position and finished second at Le Castellet in late April.
To learn more about the KENNOL Grand Prix de France Historique program and the timing of the Ligier parades, CLICK HERE.
Meet us in the Paddock 2 from 8-10 May 2026, CLICK HERE for the map.
Photo credit: DPPI - Archive image presented in a historical context.