Ligier JS P325: A Promising Start in Competition
The Ligier JS P325 officially began its racing career during the opening round of the Michelin Le Mans Cup (MLMC) and the European Le Mans Series (ELMS), held on April 5 and 6, 2025, at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.
The result of several months of intensive development, the third-generation Ligier LMP3 completed its first competitive outing — and the results speak for themselves.
A Strong Debut
During the Prologue sessions held on the Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday leading up to the races, Ligier JS P325 teams topped every session, confirming the potential of the new prototype. That trend continued through free practice and into qualifying, where the JS P325 secured all pole positions in both championships. In both MLMC and ELMS, Ligier JS P325s locked out the top 5 at the finish line.
For full results and race reports, check out our dedicated articles on the Michelin Le Mans Cup and European Le Mans Series.
Immediate Driver Confidence
From the very first laps, driver feedback was overwhelmingly positive. The new car was described as balanced, accessible, and already well-developed for its debut race weekend.
Griffin Peebles, a 17-year-old Australian driver coming from single-seaters and 2024–2025 Asian Le Mans Series champion with Bretton Racing in a Ligier JS P320, discovered the JS P325 in Barcelona:
"When I got into the car I felt I was able to push straight away. I was able to switch on the tires very quickly in the window in about 2 laps, allowing me to fight through traffic and with the other cars. Overall the car was pretty balanced, braking was effective and stable with not too much locking.
I think the biggest strong point was the good rotation mid corner which we were able to get without losing the rear. This helped us keep the tires alive longer while also gaining lap time. Overall performance felt strong, didn't have any mechanical issues.”
Eric de Doncker, bronze driver with Motorsport98 and competing in the new PRO/AM category, was also impressed by the JS P325:
"I had already done test sessions at Portimão, Spa and Le Castellet. I felt at ease in the car right away. I had raced at Portimão with the JS P320 during the 2024 Michelin Le Mans Cup finale, and as soon as I got into the JS P325, I was 1.5 seconds quicker than my previous time.
For a gentleman driver, I find the car even easier to drive than the previous version — it's more stable under braking, has better traction, and is more balanced overall. Even the turbo engine, is easier to manage.
This feeling was confirmed in race conditions at Barcelona, even though it's not a track I particularly enjoy. Unfortunately, we were pushed off by another car at the start of the race. We lost three laps to repair the car before we could rejoin the race. We had the pace to fight for a podium finish. I hope we can build on our performance at Le Castellet.
Also, I really want to highlight the service and support we receive from Ligier. It feels like a family, and the customer care is second to none."
A Solid Technical Foundation
In the garages, engineers echoed the positive feedback. The data collected throughout the weekend aligned closely with expectations based on private testing. The car proved to be stable, reliable, and competitive, with clear room for further development.
Philippe Gautheron, Technical Director and co-founder of Team Virage, which is competing this season with one Ligier JS P325 in ELMS, two in MLMC and three Ligier JS P4s in the Ligier European Series, shared his first technical impressions:
"As we saw during private testing, the car is well born, with a clear improvement in hot airflow management, both externally and internally. We're very pleased with the reliability, which is remarkable for such a new car. At Barcelona, the JS P325 appeared to be a step ahead of the competition.
Its aerodynamic behavior is more efficient but also more sensitive to setup changes and evolving track conditions. That forces us to be more precise in order to extract the best from the car — which is a positive challenge, as it pushes us to raise our level of engineering and preparation."
A Strategic Choice
The vast majority of teams chose to put their trust in the French constructor for the launch of the new LMP3 generation — and that decision is already paying off. The Ligier JS P325 is delivering on both performance and ease of operation in competitive conditions.
Nicolas Lapierre, former professional driver and co-founder of CLX Motorsport, knows Ligier well. His team won the ELMS LMP3 title in 2022 and 2023 with the Ligier JS P320, followed by titles in the Asian Le Mans Series and Michelin Le Mans Cup in 2024. With three Ligier JS P325s on the grid this season, CLX secured the first pole and race win in ELMS and a one-two finish in the MLMC at Barcelona:
"Since we started in the category, we've always raced with Ligier and have been impressed with both their reliability and performance. We also really appreciate their customer support — it's a real plus.
The choice to go with the JS P325 was a logical one. At Barcelona, the car delivered a strong level of performance and complete reliability. There's still work to do to optimize it, but the initial feedback is very encouraging. The drivers say it's well-balanced and easy to drive. Barcelona is a challenging circuit, particularly in terms of tire wear, so we're looking forward to seeing how the car performs on different tracks."
A Proven Development Path
This Barcelona weekend also showcased several Ligier European Series graduates now racing in MLMC and ELMS. Some even stood out in their very first outing — proof of the effectiveness of the endurance racing ladder built by Ligier Automotive.
Discover which Ligier European Series alumni made their mark during the JS P325's competitive debut here.
What's Next?
Next stop: Le Castellet, on May 3–4, for Round 2 of both the MLMC and ELMS. In the meantime, development continues in close collaboration with the teams, as the new LMP3 era gets underway.
The Ligier JS P325's competitive journey has begun — and it's off to a strong start.
Photo credit : DPPI
CLICK HERE to have more information on the Ligier JS P325, the third generation of Ligier LMP3.
To learn more about the ELMS, click here.
For more information on the MLMC, head this way.
To discover the Ligier European Series, the ACO racing ladder's training ground, click here.