Ligier JS P3 Revealed at Le Mans

The latest of the LMP3 contenders, the new Ligier JS P3, has been revealed Thursday at Le Mans.

Jacques Nicolet, Onroak Automotive President and Guy Ligier, founder of the Ligier brand, were featured among a group of other stakeholders and technical partners during a press conference at Circuit de la Sarthe.

Nicolet told Sportscar365 the car only had its first shakedown on Tuesday, and is expected to test again next Friday at Magny-Cours with Nissan factory ace Olivier Pla, a former OAK Racing driver.

He hopes to have the car fully homologated by the end of August, and is targeting to have five total chassis built by September, including the first that was on display during today’s press conference.

Nicolet said he’s also targeting North America for potential customers, as anticipation of LMP3’s possible arrival builds ahead of 2016/17

“I want to thank our technical partners and our development partners who have given us their support and their expertise since the start of this project,” Nicolet said.

“I am also very proud of the work done by the team at Onroak Automotive in Le Mans and in Magny-Cours, who have been able to, despite the very strict cost cap restrictions, make the most of the experience gained over the last years to offer an especially successful LMP3 model which is in no way inferior to its big sister, the Ligier JS P2.

“This LMP3, very close at the level of performance and security of the LMP2s, all the while being more accessible, offers the teams and drivers an extra step onto the endurance pyramid, crowned by the 24 Hours of Le Mans.”

During the press conference, several stakeholders and technical partners involved in the Ligier JS P3 project presented the technological innovations.

HP Composites produced the carbon parts and Exa did the CFD work, while working closely with Onroak Automotive’s design office.

With inspiration from the Ligier JS P2, Nicolas Clémençon and the Onroak Automotive design office took and transposed the data and knowledge acquired from the P2 to the P3.

A new ventilation system has been designed into the car as well, which helps distribute different air flows into the cockpit and straight to the driver.

Stand 21 developed special equipment for the Ligier JS P3, including new types of helmets and overalls to help optimize ventilation.

Onroak joins Ginetta, Riley Technologies and Adess AG, who have all either announced plans or are currently competing in the LMP3 category.