Intense week for Ligier at the 24 Hours of Le Mans 2017

After long weeks of preparation, Onroak Automotive’s entire force are mobilized for the 85th edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Track side, seven Ligier JS P217 are entered in the classic Le Mans race, and 28 Ligier JS P3 in Road to Le Mans, two races organized as a curtain raiser. In the paddock, a support service is in place to meet the needs of the LM P2 and LM P3 teams, and more than 400 guests will go behind the scenes of “the most beautiful race in the world". To further intensify this event, the manufacturer presented its brand new racing car, the Ligier JS P4.

On Wednesday afternoon, in the Ligier hospitality situated in the heart of the paddock, a press conference welcomed the many media and guests invited for the presentation of the Ligier brand’s new model. The Ligier JS P4, a sports-prototype with a carbon monocoque, aims to allow new drivers and teams to discover driving and operating a sports-prototype during endurance races and test days.

The following day, the press once more gathered at the French manufacturer’s hospitality to meet the seven teams who have entered a Ligier JS P217 this week: Algarve Pro Racing, ARC Bratislava, Eurasia Motorsport, IDEC Sport Racing, Panis-Barthez Competition, Tockwith Motorsports and United Autosports. Team managers and drivers were on site for interviews and photo opportunities.

The afternoon then followed with the first Road to Le Mans race, which saw, as in 2016, a 1-2-3 for the Ligier JS P3. The podium of the third round of the Michelin Le Mans Cup welcomed on the highest step John Falb and Sean Rayhall, the crew of the #2 United Autosports Ligier JS P3, ahead of Alexandre Cougnaud and Romano Ricci, #18 M.Racing – YMR Ligier JS P3, and the duo of Alex Kapadia – Martin Rich, at the wheel of the #14 RLR MSport Ligier JS P3.

In an LM P3 field made up of 33 entries, and at the end of an action-packed race, the Ligier JS P3 once more demonstrated an excellent balance between performance and reliability. A second race will take place on Saturday morning, ahead of the start of the 24 Hours of Le Mans

After having set the best time in the tests at the start of the season in Monza, with Olivier Pla and IDEC Sport Racing, the Ligier JS P217 took the victory at the 4 Hours of Silverstone with United Autosports, the opening round of the European Le Mans Series. These results highlighted Onroak Automotive’s new chassis.

On the very particular layout of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, 13,629 km long, the teams entering a Ligier JS P217 are facing very strong competition. During the two test days, the Ligier teams got down to work to adjust their cars ahead of the race so as to optimize the performance of the Ligier JS P217 all the while preserving the wear of their tires.

On Saturday at precisely 15h00, the start will be given for the 85th edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans; the teams and drivers in the Ligier JS P217 will then have the opportunity to write some nice stories.