MLT Motorsports Announces Purchase of Two Ligier JS F422 Cars to Race in The 2024 F4 U.S. Championship
MLT Motorsports Press Release
On 8 August 2023, MLT Motorsports announced they have purchased two of the new Ligier JS F422 cars. The team will campaign two entries in the 2024 Formula 4 United States (F4 U.S.) Championship. MLT Motorsports will use its F4 program to evaluate and help young, upcoming drivers move into its LMP3 and Lamborghini Trofeo programs.
“MLT Motorsports is excited to be part of this new generation F4 project with Ligier Automotive North America,” said Eric VanBibber, team principal. “These cars were designed with performance and safety in mind and will be an excellent addition to our stable. This series will give us a great opportunity to evaluate up and coming drivers like Lincoln Day to move into our LMP3 and Lamborghini Trofeo programs.”
“I started MLT Motorsports as a development team to help foster the next generation of race car drivers,” said owner, Dr. Michael Thompson. “The two new Ligier JS F422 cars are an excellent addition to our overall program. These cars are best-in-class when it comes to design and safety, and we can't wait to see what drivers like Lincoln Day can do when they drop the green flag on the 2024 season.”
The team also announced 17-year-old Wyoming native, Lincoln Day as one of the drivers. Day is a Skip Barber School graduate and currently races in the 2023 Skip Barber Formula Race Series. He's competed in SIM racing and completed numerous track days including a test with MLT Motorsports earlier this summer. A second driver will be announced soon.
“My test with MLT was amazing.” Day continued, “To get to drive the LMP3 and work with the team was a dream come true. I can't thank Dr. Mike Thompson enough for this opportunity. I'm looking forward to competing and winning championships with the entire MLT Motorsports team in 2024!”
The Ligier JS F422 was introduced to the F4 U.S. Championship in May at round two at Road America. The second-generation single seater will replace the current Ligier JS F4 in 2024.
“The strength and aptitude of the MLT organization, from the very start with the Ligier JS P3, is nothing short of impressive,” commented Chris Lowe, Ligier Automotive Motorsport Manager for North America. “MLT has experienced first-hand the quality with an F4 U.S. and FR Americas championship winning driver such as Dakota Dickerson [2018 F4 U.S. Champion & 2019 FR Americas Champion] winning together with Dickerson the 2021 IMSA Prototype Challenge Team & Drivers titles with the Ligier JS P320.
“MLT's intent to develop young drivers perfectly aligns with Ligier's goals. Together with the accomplished group at PMH, we look forward to welcoming MLT into the FIA F4 U.S. Championship with the exciting new Ligier JS F422.”
Launched in 2014, FIA Formula 4 was created to offer young racing drivers around the world the opportunity to take the first step from karting into the world of single-seater racing. The F4 U.S. Championship was launched in 2016 by SCCA Pro Racing and Formula Regional Americas Championship (FR Americas) soon followed in 2018. With 16 rounds, one qualifying session per race weekend, and up to three 30-minute races per weekend, Day is sure to get plenty of seat time.
Be sure to follow MLT Motorsports on Instagram @mltmotorsports for updates on testing and announcement of the 2024 race schedule.
About MLT Motorsports:
Founded in 2018 by Dr. Mike Thompson, MLT Motorsports has established itself as a premier team amongst the IMSA paddock in the LMP3 category. Based near Road Atlanta, the team has easy access to some of the best road courses in the country and, importantly, Florida, where the sportscar racing world kicks off every winter at Daytona and Sebring. Constant investment and maintenance have seen the team arrive at each race weekend with top-notch race cars and state-of-the-art equipment.
Early success can be attributed to the hard work and experience the team possesses, as the first win came on their second start at Mid-Ohio in 2019. During the 2021 season, MLT finished off the podium only once on the way to a double championship win, earning the IMSA Prototype Challenge Team's and Driver's Championship with drivers Dakota Dickerson and Josh Sarchet. Parlaying the success of the 2021 Championship, MLT made its IMSA WeatherTech Championship debut at Mid-Ohio in May of 2022, joining the ranks of the best sportscar teams in the world.
For inquiries on testing and race programs, email us at: info@mltmotorsports.com
About Ligier Automotive
Ligier Automotive is a manufacturer based in France (Magny-Cours, Amilly) and in the US with Ligier Automotive North America (Denver, North Carolina) with around 100 associates. It offers one of the largest range of cars marketed under the same brand: from sports prototypes (Ligier JS P4, Ligier JS P3, Ligier JS P320, Ligier JS P2, Ligier JS P217, Ligier Nissan DPi), to single-seaters (Ligier JS F3, Ligier JS F4 and Ligier JS F422) and GT with the Ligier JS2 R. Since 2014, it built around 580 racing cars. Ligier Automotive is the first and unique car constructor since Ferrari in 1998 to have won the 24 Hours of Daytona, the 12 Hours of Sebring and Petit Le Mans the same year and the only French car constructor to have won the 24 Hours of Daytona. Ligier Automotive is also the preferred partner of major OEM vehicles manufacturers to design and produce their concept cars and special vehicles.
The chassis, Ligier JS F4, JS F422 & JS F3, the exclusive chassis of the F4 U.S. Championship and FR Americas, were developed to reach the highest level of performance, safety and reliability standards put forth by the FIA.