Newsletter #20
Newsletter #20 – 30.05.2018
Editorial
“More than 150 cars from our workshops have been racing on circuits all over the world since the start of the season. Our client support teams have been very busy on the different continents supplying back-up service to our clients teams entered in different series. In June most of our forces are going to be concentrated in the Sarthe on one of the most important races of the year, the Le Mans 24 Hours. No fewer than eight Ligier JS P217s will be competing in the 86th staging of this iconic event. Around 30 Ligier JS P3s will also be taking part in the support race, Road to Le Mans.”
Jacques Nicolet
NEWS
The Ligier JS P4's first race
The Ligier JS P4 made its racing debut in the first round of the LM P3 Cup Championship on the Donington Park circuit. Tests are now being held in France and in Great Britain: please contact Christophe Profit (c.profit@onroak.com) and Callum McDougall (callum@unitedautosports.com).
Promising debut in the World RX Championship
This year Onroak Automotive is making its debut in Rallycross. A Peugeot 208, designed and produced in house in its workshops in Amilly, has been entered by Sébastien Loeb Racing for Grégoire Demoustier in the World RX Championship, the blue-riband category in the sport.
After four rounds the car has shown bullet-proof reliability and real potential in terms of performance. Onroak Automotive is pursuing the development of the 208 in close collaboration with Sébastien Loeb Racing, as well as accompanying the team at all the world championship events.
A third engine soon available for the Ligier JS 53 EVO 2
Early on, the Ligier JS 53 EVO 2 was powered by a 2-litre 255 bhp Honda engine. Since 2017, a 1.6-litre turbo Peugeot is also available with the same power output. This year Onroak Automotive has innovated again and provides a third option – a 400 bhp Audi engine! The first tests have already been carried out and the development phase is in the process of being finalised.
Chassis for the XYT Company and its Pixel X vehicle
Several special vehicles are produced either partially or completely in the Amilly workshops. XYT is collaborating with Onroak Automotive on the production of its new utility chassis, PIXEL X, aimed at the urban, logistics market.
The first test PIXEL Xs will leave the workshops in the coming weeks before the launch of a first series of 20 chassis. In 2019, XYT plans to deploy a fleet of 100 PIXEL X utility vehicles for professional parcel delivery firms in Paris and the Parisian region.
More information on www.bougetoncube.paris
Launch of Ligier x Hungaria clothing collection
Two historic French brands unite to offer a clothing line. Hungaria, the oldest French sports brand and Ligier, the legendary race car brand, combine their images in a chic and sporty range.
The Ligier x Hungaria collection is available in June at the following two points of sale:
– Galeries Lafayette, 17-21 rue des Minimes – 72000 Le Mans, from May 25th to June 19th, 2018.
– Official Ligier Shop, Le Mans 24 Hours Circuit Village *, on June 3rd, and from June 13th to 17th, 2018.
* accessible with a general ticket of 24 Hours of Le Mans 2018
It will also be available online at the end of the year on the new Hungaria website.
TRACKSIDE
A Ligier JS P217 entered in the FIA WEC by Larbre Compétition
Onroak Automotive made its return to the FIA WEC this year with Larbre Competition's entry of a JS P217. Jack Leconte's team, which is specialised in the GT category, has little experience of LM P2 apart from an outing in the 2014 Le Mans 24 Hours with a Morgan LM P2. It used the Prologue and the Spa 6 Hours to get to grips with its Ligier JS P217 and prepare for the team's 25th outing in the Le Mans 24 Hours. The #50 Ligier JS P217 will be driven by a trio of Frenchmen: Thomas Dagoneau already took part in the race in LM P2 in 2013, but his team-mates, gentlemen drivers Romano Ricci and Erwin Creed, are making their debut in the category this year.
Next rendezvous: round 2, Le Mans 24 Hours – 16-17 June
ELMS – 19 Ligiers battling for two European titles!
No fewer than five Ligier JS P217s and 14 Ligier JS P3s are again entered for the European Le Mans Series this year. While their performances in the LM P2 category have not yet been rewarded by telling results, the Ligier JS P3 has scored two victories in the LM P3 category. In April, the #15 Ligier JS P3 run by RLR Msport won the Le Castellet 4 Hours, emulated at Monza the following month by #11 entered by Eurointernational. After two of the six rounds in the championship Ligier JS P3s fill the first six places in the overall classification!
Next rendezvous: round 3, Red Bull Ring 4 Hours – 20-22 July
Michelin Le Mans Cup – on the way to Le Mans
For the third year running the Michelin Le Mans Cup will be held in the Sarthe as a curtain-raiser to the Le Mans 24 Hours. After the races at Paul Ricard and Monza in which the Ecurie Ecosse / Nielsen Racing and RLR Msport teams were on the topmost step of the podium with the #79, #2 and #14 Ligier JS P3s, the entrants will race in two heats in Road to Le Mans. Cars having received an invitation will be added to the entrants in the Michelin Le Mans Cup so no fewer than 30 Ligier JS P3s will tackle the 13.626-km long circuit.
Next rendezvous: round 3, Road to Le Mans – 14-16 June
IMSA WeatherTech Championship – The Ligier JS P217 heads the LM P2s
After the performances of the Nissan DPis run by Tequila Patron ESM with #22 winning the Sebring 12 Hours and #2 finishing second at Long Beach, the AFS/PR1 Mathiasen Motorsports Ligier JS P217 shone at Mid-Ohio on the very technical 3,2-km circuit. Sebastian Saavedra and Gustavo Yacaman took the chequered flag in sixth place overall and first of the LM P2s.
Next rendezvous: round 5, Detroit – 1-2 June
IMSA Prototype Challenge – three victories on the bounce for the Ligier JS P3
Ligier JS P3s have won the first three rounds of the IMSA Prototype Challenge presented by Mazda as well as setting the fastest lap in the race. After the victories of the #4 ANSA Motorsports Ligier JS P3 at Daytona and #7 run by Charles Wicht Racing at Sebring, #30 entered by Extreme Speed Motorsports took first place in the Barber Motorsports Park.
Next rendezvous: round 4, Mosport 6-8 July
F4 U.S. Championship – 33 Ligier JS F4s at the start of the championship
The interest shown by teams and drivers for the F4 U.S. Championship has been confirmed in 2018 as it has attracted a field of 33 Ligier JS F4s for the opening round. The third year of the championship has already proved to be a closely-fought one with four different winners in the first six races. Benjamin Pedersen currently leads the overall classification in his #24 Ligier JS F4.
Next rendezvous: round 3, Mid-Ohio 28th June – 1st July
China Endurance Series – the #25 and #17 Ligier JS P3s entered by PTRS still the class of the field
After clinching the two pole positions and the two victories in the opening round last month on the Shanghai circuit with their #25 and #17 Ligier JS P3s, the PTRS team shone again in the second round of the China Endurance Series on the Ningbo International Circuit. The #25 Ligier JS P3 set pole and scored victory in the opening race, and then finished third in the main event. The team's second car, the #17 Ligier JS P2, clinched the second pole position and second place in the opening heat.
The #18 Ligier JS P3 run by KCMG won the main race after starting in second place.
Next rendezvous: round 3, Zhuhai, 15 – 16 September
V de V Endurance Series – Ligier JS P3 double at Paul Ricard
The Ligier JS P3s entered by Inter Europol Competition and Wimmer Werk Motorsport clinched a superb double in the third round of the V de V Endurance Series on the Paul Ricard circuit.
The victory of the #22 Ligier JS P3 entered by Inter Europol Competition consolidating the leadership in the overall classification of its drivers, Jakub Smiechowski and Pontus Frederiksson.
Next rendezvous: round 3, Dijon Prenois, 29th June – 1st July.
Photo DPPI images