Ligier JS P3

Last updated
Ligier JS P3
Ligier-01(1).jpg
Designer(s) Nicolas Clémençon
Successor Ligier JS P320
Technical specifications
Chassis Carbon Monocoque
Suspension (front)Double Wishbone
Suspension (rear)As Front
Length4605mm
Width1900mm
Wheelbase 2860mm
Engine Nissan VK50DE V8 5.0L
Transmission 6-speed sequential gearbox XTrac 1152
FuelVarious
LubricantsVarious
Brakes 6 Piston Brembo 14in Steel Disks
Tyres Dunlop, Michelin, Pirelli, Continental, Giti
Competition history
Notable entrants Flag of the United States.svg United Autosports
Flag of France.svg OAK Racing
Flag of France.svg GRAFF Racing
Flag of the United States.svg Tequila Patron ESM
Debut2015 4 Hours of Estoril
RacesWinsTitles
2421802016-2018 European Le Mans Series (LMP3)
Teams' Championships7 (2016-2018 European Le Mans Series, 2015-2016, 2016-2017, 2017-2018 Asian Le Mans Series, 2019 Ultimate Cup Series Proto)
Drivers' Championships10 (2016-2018 European Le Mans Series, 2015-2016, 2016-2017, 2017 GT & Prototype Challenge, 2017 British LMP3 Cup, 2017-2018 Asian Le Mans Series, 2019 Ultimate Cup Series Proto, 2023 Masters Endurance Legends Prototype)

The Ligier JS P3 is an LMP3 Le Mans Prototype. It was created by Onroak Automotive, and named in partnership with former French driver Guy Ligier. It was built to meet ACO LMP3 standards, and is active in various LMP3 championships worldwide, such as the European Le Mans Series, IMSA Prototype Challenge, and the Asian Le Mans Series. The car has proven to be immensely popular in the category, with over 100 cars being produced since 2015. [1] It has also proved to be one of the most successful prototypes in the class, with a total of 103 overall wins and class victories from 132 races entered by the car. [2] It is set to be succeeded in 2020, by the Ligier JS P320, when new LMP3 regulations are set to come into place. [3]

Contents

Development

In 2014, the ACO announced a new category of Le Mans Prototypes, known as LMP3, which would replace the previous Le Mans Prototype Challenge (LMPC) class in 2015. [4] The number of constructors was limited in the class, with licenses being issued to 6 manufacturers, namely ADESS, Ligier (Onroak Automotive), Ave/Riley, Norma, Dome, as well as Ginetta. Nissan was later announced to be supplying the spec engine, the VK50VE producing 420 hp. The car was launched on the 2nd of February 2015. [5] It was designed primarily in Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) using Exa Corporation's PowerFLOW Simulation Software. [6]

Compared to its rivals in the LMP3 class, it has been known to have a lower top speed through speed traps, but is known have an advantage in the corners. [7] [8]

Competition history

2015

On its debut at the 2015 4 Hours of Estoril, the car finished well, scoring a podium finish at the hands of Graff Racing. [9]

2016

United Autosports clinched the LMP3 Teams championship with the car, [10] while in the V de V Endurance Series, Inter Europol Competition clinched the LMP3 teams championship. [11]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">European Le Mans Series</span> Auto racing championship in Europe

The European Le Mans Series is a European sports car racing endurance series inspired by the 24 Hours of Le Mans race and organized by the Automobile Club de l'Ouest (ACO). The European Le Mans Series is similar to the former American Le Mans Series (ALMS) based in the United States and Canada that was running with ACO and IMSA between 1999 and 2013. ELMS team champions and runners-up receive an automatic entry to the following year's 24 Hours of Le Mans. Originally titled the Le Mans Endurance Series before becoming simply the Le Mans Series in 2006, the series was renamed once more in 2012, reusing a name previously utilized by IMSA in 2001.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Le Mans Prototype</span> Sportscar endurance racing class

A Le Mans Prototype (LMP) is a type of sports prototype race car used in various races and championships, including the 24 Hours of Le Mans, FIA World Endurance Championship, IMSA SportsCar Championship, European Le Mans Series and Asian Le Mans Series. Le Mans Prototypes were created by the Automobile Club de l'Ouest (ACO). The technical requirements for an LMP include bodywork covering all mechanical elements of the car. As of 2023, there are two classes within Le Mans Prototypes, designated LMP2 and LMP3.

United Autosports is a sports car racing team founded by American businessman and entrepreneur Zak Brown and Richard Dean.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2015 European Le Mans Series</span>

The 2015 European Le Mans Series season was the twelfth season of the Automobile Club de l'Ouest's (ACO) European Le Mans Series. The five-event season began at Silverstone Circuit, in conjunction with the FIA World Endurance Championship, on 11 April and finished at Autódromo do Estoril on 18 October.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ligier JS P2</span>

The Ligier JS P2 is a racing car designed and built by French manufacturer Onroak Automotive and named in partnership with French former racing driver Guy Ligier. Designed for the Le Mans Prototype 2 (LMP2) regulations, it is intended as a second option to Onroak's Morgan LMP2 that has been competing since 2012. As well as being the first closed-cockpit car offered by Onroak, it is also the first car they designed entirely in-house. The JS P2 debuted at the 2014 24 Hours of Le Mans, and has been campaigned in the FIA World Endurance Championship, European Le Mans Series, Asian Le Mans Series and IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ligier Automotive</span>

Ligier Automotive, formerly Onroak Automotive, is a French company which designs, manufacturers, and sells racing cars, specifically sports prototypes for various international series. Onroak was founded in 2012 by Jacques Nicolet who split the design, manufacturing, and sales divisions of his OAK Racing team into an independent company. Onroak has since formed an agreement with Philippe Ligier to develop new cars under the Ligier title. On 31 December 2018, it was announced that Onroak Automotive would be rebranded to Ligier Automotive as part of a rebranding and reorganization of Everspeed's automotive assets.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2016 European Le Mans Series</span>

The 2016 European Le Mans Series was the thirteenth season of the Automobile Club de l'Ouest's (ACO) European Le Mans Series. The six-event season began at Silverstone Circuit, in conjunction with the FIA World Endurance Championship, on 16 April and finished at Autódromo do Estoril on 23 October.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ligier JS P217</span>

The Ligier JS P217 is a Le Mans Prototype built by Onroak Automotive and named in a partnership with French racing driver Guy Ligier. The Ligier JS P217 was built to meet the 2017 FIA and ACO regulations for 2017 for the LMP2 category in the FIA World Endurance Championship. The car also meets the regulations for the International Motor Sports Association’s (IMSA) WeatherTech SportsCar Championship for the Prototype class. It was active in both of these championship series as well as the European Le Mans Series and Asian Le Mans Series. The prototype made its racing debut at the 2017 24 Hours of Daytona and its FIA World Endurance Championship debut at the 2017 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018 European Le Mans Series</span>

The 2018 European Le Mans Series was the fifteenth season of the Automobile Club de l'Ouest's (ACO) European Le Mans Series. The six-event season began at Circuit Paul Ricard on 15 April and finished at Algarve International Circuit on 28 October. The series is open to Le Mans Prototypes, divided into the LMP2 and LMP3 classes, and grand tourer-style racing cars in the LMGTE class.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Norma M30</span>

The Norma M30 is an LMP3-spec sports prototype. The car is built by French constructor Norma Auto Concept and designed by company co-founder Norbert Santos. The Norma M30 won the 2017 Michelin Le Mans Cup in its debut year entered by DKR Engineering.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Everspeed</span>

Everspeed is a French holding company for motorsport related companies. The company was founded by Jacques Nicolet as JN Holding. The company was renamed as Everspeed in 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Riley-Multimatic MkXXX</span> Le Mans race car

The Riley-Multimatic MkXXX, also known as the Riley-Multimatic Mk.30, or simply the Riley Mk.30, is a Le Mans Prototype 2 built to the 2017 FIA/ACO regulations. This car can be raced globally in the European Le Mans Series, Asian Le Mans Series, the FIA World Endurance Championship, and the IMSA sanctioned WeatherTech Sportscar Championship. It made its racing debut at the 2017 Rolex 24 at Daytona, scoring a podium finish, with Spirit of Daytona Racing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ginetta-Juno P3-15</span> British sports car prototype

The Ginetta-Juno P3-15, also known as the Ginetta-Juno P3 is a Le Mans Prototype LMP3 built to ACO Le Mans Prototype LMP3 regulations. It was designed by Ewan Baldry, and built by Ginetta Cars. The car was the first car to launch, and run in the class, with it making its debut at the 2015 4 Hours of Silverstone. It subsequently formed the basis of the G57 P2, and the later G58. A direct successor to the P3-15, the G61-LT-P3, was developed to meet the new 2020 LMP3 regulations, while retaining the original tub utilised in the P3-15.

The ADESS-03 is a Le Mans Prototype LMP3 built to ACO Le Mans Prototype LMP3 regulations. It was designed and built by ADESS AG. The car had its competition debut at the 2015 4 Hours of Fuji. The car also serves as a base for the GreenGT LMPH2G and H24 Hydrogen powered Le Mans Prototype.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ligier JS P320</span> French sports car prototype

The Ligier JS P320 is an LMP3 Le Mans Prototype. It was created by Onroak Automotive, and named in partnership with former French driver Guy Ligier. It was built to meet ACO Generation II LMP3 standards, and can be built through an update kit for its predecessor, the Ligier JS P3. The car is set to be eligible in a series of Championships worldwide, such as the Michelin Le Mans Cup, Prototype Cup Germany, Asian Le Mans Series, European Le Mans Series, IMSA Prototype Challenge and IMSA SportsCar Championship. The car was launched on 4 June 2019, and was the first Gen II LMP3 to be revealed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ligier Nissan DPi</span>

The Ligier Nissan DPi, also known as the Onroak Nissan DPi is a Daytona Prototype car built by Ligier Automotive. The car is based on the Ligier JS P217, which was built to meet the 2017 FIA and ACO regulations for 2017 for the LMP2 category in the FIA World Endurance Championship. The prototype made its racing debut at the 2017 24 Hours of Daytona, with the Tequila Patrón ESM team, finishing 4th on its debut.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ginetta G61-LT-P3</span> Le Mans Prototype LMP3 car

The Ginetta G61-LT-P3 is a Le Mans Prototype LMP3 built to ACO Le Mans Prototype LMP3 regulations. It was designed, and built by Ginetta Cars. The car is the successor to the original Ginetta-Juno P3-15, which was the first LMP3 Prototype. The car can be built from its predecessor, and is set to be eligible in a series of Championships worldwide, such as the European Le Mans Series, and the IMSA Prototype Challenge. The car was launched on the weekend of the 2019 24 Hours of Le Mans, being publicly unveiled alongside its competitors.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Duqueine D-08</span> French sports car prototype

The Duqueine D-08 is a Le Mans Prototype LMP3 built to ACO 2020 2nd Generation Le Mans Prototype LMP3 regulations. It was designed, and built by Duqueine Engineering, which bought out Norma Auto Concept. The car is the successor to the Norma M30. The car can be built from its predecessor, and is set to be eligible in a series of Championships worldwide, such as the European Le Mans Series, and the IMSA Prototype Challenge. While the car was launched on the weekend of the 2019 24 Hours of Le Mans, it was not physically seen until September 2019, with the car at Le Mans being a repainted M30.

An LMDh is a type of sports prototype race car that competes alongside Le Mans Hypercar entries in the Grand Touring Prototype (GTP) class of the IMSA SportsCar Championship from 2023. It also competes in the Hypercar class of the FIA World Endurance Championship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Inter Europol Competition</span> Polish motorsports team

Inter Europol Competition is a Polish motorsports team that competes in endurance racing. The team contests the 24 Hours of Le Mans, FIA World Endurance Championship, European Le Mans Series, Asian Le Mans Series and Le Mans Cup in 2023. They formerly competed in BOSS GP, V de V and Formula Renault 2.0 Northern European Cup. As a reference to the focus of its owner and sponsor, the bakery goods producer Inter Europol SA, the team is often referred to as Turbo Piekarze.

References

  1. "LMP3 News Notebook: VdeV, 6H di Roma, Ligier's 100th JS P3 – dailysportscar.com". www.dailysportscar.com. Retrieved 2018-12-04.
  2. "Ligier JS P3 - Racing Sports Cars". www.racingsportscars.com. Retrieved 2019-04-14.
  3. "4H Le Castellet: Friday Paddock Notes – dailysportscar.com". www.dailysportscar.com. Retrieved 2019-04-14.
  4. "LMP3 officially launched - Racecar Engineering". Racecar Engineering. 2014-07-19. Retrieved 2018-12-03.
  5. "Onroak Launch Ligier JS P3, Available In September – dailysportscar.com". www.dailysportscar.com. Retrieved 2018-12-03.
  6. Rus, Tudor (2015-06-12). "Meet Ligier JS P3, the LMP3 Le Mans Prototype With Fatigue-Reducing Cockpit". autoevolution. Retrieved 2019-04-14.
  7. "Comparing the Norma M30 and the Ligier JS P3". lemanscup.com. Retrieved 2019-01-20.
  8. Ben (2017-10-31). "Data Analysis – Prototype Challenge" . Retrieved 2019-01-20.
  9. "Course 4 Hours of Estoril 2015 race | European Le Mans Series". www.europeanlemansseries.com. Retrieved 2018-12-03.
  10. "ELMS 2016 LMP3 Teams Championship" (PDF).
  11. "Ligier JS P3 endurance racing car information, technical spec - Ligier UK". www.ligieruk.com. Retrieved 2019-01-20.