NEWSLETTER #21
“These last few months have been charged with emotion. Our new racing car, the Ligier JS2 R, was unveiled on 11 October at the Paris Motor Show. With this anniversary car Ligier returns to the GT category and offers an accessible choice for those who want to have fun at the circuits. In 2019, drivers will be able to race it in a single-make championship, the Ligier JS Cup France. On the racing front, the season has finished in a blaze of glory for Ligier with five LM P3 titles for the Ligier JS P3 on three different continents (the European Le Mans Series, the LM P3 Cup, the V de V Endurance Series plus the Asian Le Mans Cup and the IMSA Prototype Challenge). In addition, the Ligier JS P217 scored two consecutive victories in the European Le Mans Series and clinched a 100% Ligier JS P217 podium in the final round on the Portimao circuit. In the United States, the single-make F3 Americas and F4 U.S. Championships in which around 50 Ligier single-seaters have been racing have just finished. We're now looking ahead to the Asian Le Mans Series in which almost 18 Ligier JS P2s and Ligier JS P3s will be battling for the title! No break for the Ligiers! ”
Jacques Nicolet
NEWS
The Ligier JS2 R, a modern car with iconic lines
The make's latest model, the Ligier JS2 R, was unveiled on 11 October at the Paris Motor Show on the B.R.M Chronographes' stand. This car that celebrates the 50th anniversary of the make has been designed exclusively for racing and is a worthy heir to the Ligier JS2, which finished in second place in the 1975 Le Mans 24 Hours. Its aim is to combine performance and pleasure. When it returned from the Motor Show it had a successful first shakedown on the Magny-Cours circuit. Numerous test sessions are being organised in November to give enthusiasts the opportunity to discover this car. Don't wait any longer! To reserve your slot contact Christophe Profit at c.profit@onroak.com.
Some Ligiers in the film The Gentleman Driver
Coming soon! The documentary, The Gentleman Driver, will be available in the very near future. Out of the four Gentlemen drivers in the film, three are racing Ligier JS P2s or Ligier JS P3s. Discover the life of these entrepreneurs who are afraid of nothing at #WordHardRaceHarder.
For more information visit www.thegentlemandrivermovie.com
Ligier JS P4s on the Val de Vienne circuit
The Les Deux Arbres company's driving school “I Drive” has added two Ligier JS P4s to its fleet. Rendezvous in 2019 on the Val de Vienne circuit to discover driving at the wheel of the latest sports prototype from the Ligier make, which came out in 2018. With its futuristic design, aggressive lines, excellent aerodynamic balance, specific transversal transmission, very compact 6-speed gearbox, electric power-assisted steering and differential and steering-wheel-mounted paddles you won't be disappointed. First-time track drives are also available. Thrills guaranteed!
TRACKSIDE
Five titles for the Ligier JS P3 in 2018!
In Europe, Asia and the United States the Ligier JS P3 continues to rack up successes. This year, it has clinched no fewer than five titles with five different teams: RLR Msport in the European Le Mans Series, Ecurie Ecosse / Nielsen Racing in the LM P3 Cup, ESM in the IMSA Prototype Challenge, Jackie Chan DC Racing in the Asian Le Mans Series and Wimmer Werk Motorsport in the V de V Endurance Series.
A look-back at the performances of the Onroak-Nissan DPis in the IMSA WeatherTech SportCars Championship
In 2018, the Onroak-Nissan DPis run by the Tequila Patron ESM team won at Sebring and Laguna Seca. The cars were fighting for their second victory on the bounce in the final race of the season, the Petit Le Mans on the Road Atlanta circuit, (the third for Onroak Automotive winner of the Petit Le Mans in 2016 with the Ligier JS P2 entered by Michael Shank Racing).
The weekend got off to a great start with the #22 Tequila Patron ESM Onroak-Nissan DPi clinching pole position while its sister car, #2, lined up fourth on the grid. The latter was lying second after two hours racing, but ran into a technical problem and had to pit losing 10 laps in the process: it finally finished eleventh. #22 was also hit by bad luck. With an hour to go to the chequered flag it was in the lead with five seconds in hand over its pursuers until a puncture dashed its chances of fighting for the win and it came home in sixth place.
While the hoped-for results failed to materialise in the last race, Tequila Patron ESM demonstrated once again the performances of the Onroak-Nissan DPis. Since 2017, the team and its cars have clinched three pole positions and eight podium finishes including four victories!
Ligier monopolizes the field in the 2018-2019 Asian Le Mans Series
The end of the season in Europe and the United States coincides with the start of the Asian Le Mans Series. To date, 18 Ligiers, seven Ligier JS P2s and 11 Ligier JS P3s, are among the 23 entries. The first race takes place on the Shanghai circuit on 24-25 November. Next up is Fuji in Japan on 8-9 December, Buriram in Thailand on 11-12 January and the teams go to Sepang in Malaysia on 23-24 February for the final round.
The Ligier JS P217s fought at the front in 2018
Overall, the Ligier JS P217s enjoyed a great season. The Ligier JS P217 won two of the six rounds in the ELMS with the United Autosports #22 (Spa-Francorchamps and Portimao), clinched four podium finishes (Red Bull Ring and Portimao with#22, Spa-Francorchamps and Portimao with #23 entered by Panis Barthez Compétition) as well as setting pole position at Silverstone with the Panis Barthez Compétition #23.
The Ligier JS P217 also demonstrated its speed in the 86th Le Mans 24 Hours with the United Autosports #32 finishing third in LM P2. #23 run by Panis Barthez Compétition was in the top 3 for almost 19 hours until it was hit by a clutch problem. The car saw the chequered flag in 9th place in the LM P2 category.
Spotlight on the Ligier single-seaters
CNs, sports prototypes and now GTs - Ligier also designs single-seaters, the Ligier JS F3 and the Ligier JS F4!
End of the F3 Americas and F4 U.S Championships
The 100% Ligier F3 Americas and F4 U.S Championships finished on a high note on the Circuit of the Americas (COTA) as supporting races to the main event, the Formula 1 Grand Prix. Around 40 Ligier JS F3s and Ligier F4s took part in this meeting. Kyle Kirkwood and Abel Motorsport won the F3 Americas' title. Kirkwood dominated the 17 heats leaving his rivals little chance as he won fifteen! Dakota Dickerson and DC Autosports with Cape Motorsports clinched first place in the U.S F4 Championship winning Dickerson a drive in a Ligier JS F3 in the 2019 F3 Americas Championship.
The Ligier JS F3 inspires the new S5000 in Australia
The Ligier JS F3 has arrived in Australia in the form of the new S5000 which, powered by a 5-litre V8 560 bhp Ford Coyote engine, will be the fourth-quickest single-seater in the world after the F1s, IndyCars and F2s! In Australia, the S5000 is replacing the Formula Thunder 5000 and the current Super 5000s. The calendar of the 2019 S5000 championship will be revealed shortly.
Credit Photo: DPPI Images