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[2] 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.

Ligier JS P217
CategoryLe Mans Prototype 2
ConstructorOnroak Automotive
Designer(s)Nicolas Clémençon[1]
PredecessorLigier JS P2
Technical specifications[2][3]
ChassisCarbon fibre monocoque
Suspension (front)Double wishbones with pushrod and torque rod-activated dampers
Suspension (rear)Double wishbones with spring-activated dampers
Length4,745 mm (186.8 in)
Width1,900 mm (75 in)
Height1,050 mm (41 in)
Wheelbase3,010 mm (119 in)
EngineGibson GK-428 4.2 litre V8
longitudinal mid-mounted configuration
TransmissionHewland TLS-200 6-speed sequential gearbox magnesium casing sequential manual transmission
Power603 hp (450 kW)
WeightAppr. 930 kg (2,050 lb)
FuelVarious
LubricantsVarious
TyresMichelin, Dunlop, or Continental
Competition history
Notable entrantsPortugal Algarve Pro Racing
Italy EuroInternational
France IDEC Sport Racing
Poland Inter Europol Competition
France Larbre Compétition
France Panis Barthez Competition
China CEFC Manor TRS Racing
United States PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports
United States Visit Florida Racing
United Kingdom Tockwith Motorsports
United States United Autosports
Slovakia ARC Bratislava
Philippines RWR Eurasia
Spain CD Sport
United States Sean Creech Motorsport

Notable driversUnited Kingdom Tom Kimber-Smith
Mexico José Gutiérrez
United States Mike Guasch
United States R. C. Enerson
United States Will Owen
Italy Marco Bonanomi
United States Kenton Koch
United Kingdom Ryan Lewis
France Olivier Pla
United States Nicholas Boulle
Canada David Ostella
France Julien Canal
Belgium Marc Goossens
Netherlands Renger van der Zande
Germany René Rast
United States Jonathan Bomarito
Spain Fernando Alonso
United Kingdom Philip Hanson
United Kingdom Lando Norris
United Kingdom Paul di Resta
Brazil Bruno Senna
Switzerland Hugo de Sadeleer
United Kingdom Alex Brundle
Colombia Sebastián Saavedra
Colombia Gustavo Yacamán
Mexico Roberto González
United States Austin Dillon
Germany Sven Müller
United States Cody Ware
Turkey Salih Yoluç
France Fabien Barthez
France Timothé Buret
France Nathanaël Berthon
United States Matt McMurry
France Andrea Pizzitola
Italy Andrea Roda
France Patrice Lafargue
France Paul Lafargue
France David Zollinger
France Paul-Loup Chatin
Portugal Filipe Albuquerque
United Kingdom Nigel Moore
United Kingdom Wayne Boyd
United Kingdom Will Stevens
South Korea Tacksung Kim
United States Mark Patterson
Netherlands Ate De Jong
France Erik Maris
France William Cavailhes
France Nicolas Minassian
France Aurélien Panis
United Kingdom Paul di Resta
Republic of Ireland Ryan Cullen
Austria René Binder
Russia Konstantin Tereshchenko
Netherlands Léonard Hoogenboom
France Stéphane Adler
Spain Dani Clos
France Léo Roussel
Poland Jakub Śmiechowski
France Adrien Tambay
Austria Lukas Dunner
Belgium Sam Dejonghe
Russia Matevos Isaakyan
India Karun Chandhok
France Erwin Creed
France Romano Ricci
France Thomas Dagoneau
Japan Yoshiharu Mori
Japan Keiko Ihara
France Enzo Guibbert
United States Gunnar Jeannette
Australia Nick Foster
Spain Roberto Merhi
Japan Nobuya Yamanaka
Belgium Christophe d'Ansembourg
Slovakia Miro Konôpka
United Kingdom Tom Jackson
United Kingdom Darren Burke
United Kingdom Oliver Webb
New Zealand Daniel Gaunt
Japan Masataka Yanagida
New Zealand Nick Cassidy
New Zealand Shane van Gisbergen
Australia Aidan Read
Australia John Corbett
Australia Nathan Kumar
Australia Mitchell Neilson
Singapore Danial Frost
United Kingdom James Winslow
Australia Neale Muston

Debut2017 24 Hours of Daytona
First win2017 4 Hours of Silverstone
Last win2022 ESET Cup GT Sprint Race 2
Last event2024 IMSA SportsCar Weekend
RacesWinsPodiumsPolesF/Laps
7471700
Teams' Championships0
Constructors' Championships0
Drivers' Championships0

Development

edit

The Liger JS P217 was conceived in 2016 in preparation for the FIA and ACO's new regulation changes in 2017. Onroak Automotive built a brand new chassis from scratch and focused on improving the mechanics of the car from the Ligier JS P2. Onroak and technical partners focused on the air cooling of the engine radiators and brakes and cockpit air conditioning. The mechanical features of the car that were concentrated on was the implementation of a new axle, nut, and rim to lessen the time of tire changes, the efficiency of the axles, weight distribution, accessibility of mechanics at the front of the cockpit, aerodynamic efficiency, LMP1 style power steering, and a limited number of chassis pieces. The driver's comfort, space, controls accessibility, and visibility also was paid attention to as well.[2]

The car was unveiled at Spa-Francorchamps publicly in September 2016. It also performed tests at Magny-Cours in September 2016 and Daytona International Speedway in November 2016 for preparation for the 24 Hours of Daytona.[4]

Nissan Onroak DPi

edit
 
Nissan Onroak DPi in 2017 Petit Le Mans.

A variation of the prototype, the Nissan Onroak DPi, also known as the Ligier Nissan DPi, was created for the IMSA's WeatherTech SportsCar Championship Prototype class under the DPi regulations. The car was developed in partnership with Nissan and Nismo. The powerplant of the vehicle is a 3.8 litre V6 twin-turbo engine from the Nissan GT-R GT3. Other alterations from the P217 include a large front panel and revised side panels.[5] Onroak Automotive supplied Tequila Patrón ESM with two prototypes for the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.[3] ESM ran the DPi until closing due to a lack of sponsorship in late 2018.[6] CORE Autosport would purchase the ESM DPis and run them for the 2019 season. The program would not continue due to the retirement of team owner Jon Bennett.[7]

Ligier JS PX

edit

Revealed in 2021, the Ligier JS PX is an unrestricted track-day special based on the JS P217.[8] Seemingly an evolution of the Onroak DPi, the JS PX utilizes a 3.8 liter V6 twin-turbo engine, yet developed to 825 hp. The chassis, suspension, and transmission are identical to the P217, though Ligier optimized ABS, TC, and ECU systems using input from Olivier Pla.[9] A similarly large front panel to that of the Nissan DPi is utilized, with an extended nose and a copycat element directly under it. The PX retains single canards on each side like the P217, in place of the DPi's dual-canard setup on each side. While the enlarged cooling duct from the DPi used to cool the NISMO VR38DETT is present, the side panels see simplification in the form of removal of a turning vane.

The car would be featured as the main protagonist's Le Mans entry in the 2023 film Gran Turismo, complete with a racing livery with PlayStation and NISMO sponsorship, further proving relevance to the DPi racecar.[10]

Complete FIA World Endurance Championship results

edit

Results in bold indicate pole position. Results in italics indicate fastest lap.

Year Entrant Class Drivers No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Points Pos
 
SIL
 
SPA
 
24H
 
NUR
 
MEX
 
COTA
 
FUJ
 
SHA
 
BHR
2017   Tockwith Motorsports LMP2   Nigel Moore 34 Ret 9 Ret 0 NC
  Philip Hanson Ret 9 Ret
  Karun Chandhok Ret 9
No.  
SPA
 
24H
 
SIL
 
FUJ
 
SHA
 
SEB
 
SPA
 
24H
Points Pos
2018 - 2019   Larbre Compétition LMP2   Erwin Creed 50 6 6 6 5 6 4 6 4 85 5th
  Romano Ricci 6 6 6 5 6 4 6 4
  Julien Canal 6
  Thomas Dagoneau 6
  Yoshiharu Mori 6
  Keiko Ihara 5
  Enzo Guibbert 6
  Gunnar Jeannette 4
  Nicholas Boulle 7 4
No.  
SIL
 
FUJ
 
SHA
 
BHR
 
COTA
 
SPA
 
24H
 
BHR
Points Pos
2019 - 2020   Eurasia Motorsport LMP2   Nick Foster 35 8 14 0 NC
  Roberto Merhi 8 14
  Nobuya Yamanaka 8 14
  Inter Europol Competition   René Binder 34 17 0 NC
  Matevos Isaakyan 17
  Jakub Śmiechowski 17
  EuroInternational   Christophe d'Ansembourg 11 Ret 0 NC
  Erik Maris Ret
  Adrien Tambay Ret
No.  
SPA
 
POR
 
MON
 
24H
 
BHR
 
BHR
Points Pos
2021   ARC Bratislava LMP2   Miro Konôpka 44 Ret 11 11 2 11th
  Tom Jackson Ret 11
  Darren Burke Ret
  Oliver Webb 11 11

Complete European Le Mans Series results

edit

Results in bold indicate pole position. Results in italics indicate fastest lap.

Year Entrant Class Drivers No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Points Pos
 
SIL
 
MON
 
RBR
 
LEC
 
SPA
 
POR
2017   Panis Barthez Competition LMP2   Fabien Barthez 23 9 7 5 4 9 6 41 7th
  Timothé Buret 9 7 5 4 9 6
  Nathanaël Berthon 9 5 4 9 6
  Algarve Pro Racing   Matt McMurry 25 Ret Ret Ret 8 Ret 11 4.5 13th
  Andrea Pizzitola Ret Ret Ret 8 Ret 11
  Andrea Roda Ret Ret Ret 8 Ret
  IDEC Sport Racing   Patrice Lafargue 28 8 9 Ret 11 10 10 8.5 12th
  Paul Lafargue 8 9 Ret 11 10 10
  David Zollinger 8
  Olivier Pla 9 Ret 11
  Paul-Loup Chatin 10 10
  United Autosports   Filipe Albuquerque 32 1 6 1 5 4 2 98 2nd
  William Owen 1 6 1 5 4 2
  Hugo de Sadeleer 1 6 1 5 4 2
  Tockwith Motorsports   Philip Hanson 34 5 11 9 12.5 10th
  Nigel Moore 5 11 9
 
LEC
 
MON
 
RBR
 
SIL
 
SPA
 
POR
Points Pos
2018   United Autosports LMP2   Philip Hanson 22 12 10 3 Ret 1 1 54 4th
  Bruno Senna 12
  Filipe Albuquerque 10 3 Ret 1 1
  Wayne Boyd 32 9 11 15 10 6 3 23 10th
  William Owen 9 11 15 10 6 3
  Hugo de Sadeleer 9 11 15 10 6 3
  Panis Barthez Competition   Timothé Buret 23 8 7 10 6 3 2 45.5 6th
  Julien Canal 8 7 10 6 3 2
  Will Stevens 8 7 10 6 3 2
  Algarve Pro Racing   Tacksung Kim 25 16 13 17 11 13 10 3.25 18th
  Mark Patterson 16 13 17 11 13 10
  Ate De Jong 16 13 17 11 10
  Matt McMurry 13
  IDEC Sport Racing   Patrice Lafargue 27 Ret 12 16 1.25 19th
  Erik Maris Ret 12 16 14
  William Cavailhes Ret 12
  Nicolas Minassian 16 14
  Aurélien Panis 14
 
LEC
 
MON
 
CAT
 
SIL
 
SPA
 
POR
Points Pos
2019   United Autosports LMP2   Philip Hanson 22 6 4 7 Ret 71 4th
  Paul di Resta 6
  Filipe Albuquerque 4 7 Ret
  Alex Brundle 32 12 3 8 8 37.5 8th
  Ryan Cullen 12 3 8 8
  William Owen 3 8 8
  Panis Barthez Competition   René Binder 23 10 9 15 7 19.5 11th
  Julien Canal 10 9 15 7
  Will Stevens 10 9 15 7
  Timothé Buret 24 Ret 7 Ret 5 Ret 8 20 10th
  Konstantin Tereshchenko Ret 7 Ret 5 Ret 8
  Léonard Hoogenboom Ret 7 Ret
  IDEC Sport Racing   Stéphane Adler 27 Ret 16 14 13 Ret 13 2 18th
  Erik Maris Ret 16 Ret
  Patrice Lafargue Ret 16 13 13
  William Cavailhes 14 13 Ret 13
  Inter Europol Competition   Dani Clos 34 15 13 Ret 2 17th
  Léo Roussel 15
  Jakub Śmiechowski 15 13 Ret 12 12 Ret
  Adrien Tambay Ret 12
  Lukas Dunner 12
  Sam Dejonghe 12 Ret
  Mathias Beche 12 Ret
 
LEC
 
SPA
 
LEC
 
MON
 
POR
Points Pos
2020   Inter Europol Competition LMP2   René Binder 34 7 11 6 12 Ret 15.5 12th
  Matevos Isaakyan 7 11 6 12 Ret
  Jakub Śmiechowski 7 11 6 12 Ret

Complete Asian Le Mans Series results

edit

Results in bold indicate pole position. Results in italics indicate fastest lap.

Year Entrant Class Drivers No. 1 2 3 4 Points Pos
 
SHA
 
BEN
 
SEP
 
CHA
2019 - 2020   Eurasia Motorsport LMP2   Daniel Gaunt 1 Ret Ret Ret 4 13 7th
  Nobuya Yamanaka Ret 4
  Masataka Yanagida Ret Ret
  Nick Cassidy Ret Ret 4
  Shane van Gisbergen Ret
  Nick Foster 36 2 2 2 5 65 3rd
  Roberto Merhi 2 2 2 5
  Aidan Read 2 2 2 5
  Inter Europol Competition   John Corbett 33 5 4 6 6 38 4th
  Nathan Kumar 5 4 6 6
  Mitchell Neilson 5 4
  Danial Frost 6 6
  Mathias Beche 34 4 Ret 5 7 28 5th
  Jakub Śmiechowski 4 Ret 5 7
  James Winslow 4 Ret 5 7
 
DUB 1
 
DUB 2
 
YMC 1
 
YMC 2
Points Pos
2021   EuroInternational - Ojets LMP2 - Am   John Corbett 11 2 Ret 18 2nd
  Neale Muston 2 Ret
 
DUB 1
 
DUB 2
 
YMC 1
 
YMC 2
Points Pos
2022   ARC Bratislava LMP2

LMP2 Am
  Miro Konôpka 44 4 4 5 4 51 4th
  Neale Muston 4 4 5 4
  John Corbett 4 4 5 4 63 3rd


Complete IMSA SportsCar Championship results

edit

Results in bold indicate pole position. Results in italics indicate fastest lap.

Year Entrant Class Drivers No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Points Pos
 
DAY
 
SEB
 
LBH
 
AUS
 
BEL
 
WGL
 
MOS
 
ELK
 
LGA
 
ATL
2017   PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports   Tom Kimber-Smith 52 9 7 5 237 7th
  José Gutiérrez 9 7 9 4 7 7 10
  Mike Guasch 9 7
  R. C. Enerson 9
  Will Owen 5
  Marco Bonanomi 9
  Kenton Koch 10
  Ryan Lewis 10
  Olivier Pla 4 7 7 10
  Nicholas Boulle 8
  David Ostella 8
  Julien Canal 10
  VisitFlorida Racing   Marc Goossens 90 5 1 7 233 8th
  Renger van der Zande 5 1 7
  René Rast
  Jonathan Bomarito 7
 
DAY
 
SEB
 
LBH
 
MOH
 
BEL
 
WGL
 
MOS
 
ELK
 
LGA
 
ATL
Points Pos
2018   United Autosports   Fernando Alonso 23 13 18 19th
  Philip Hanson 13
  Lando Norris 13
  Paul di Resta 32 4 5 4 82 15th
  Bruno Senna 4
  Will Owen 4
  Hugo de Sadeleer 4
  Philip Hanson 5 4
  Alex Brundle 5
  AFS/PR1 Mathiasen Motorsports   Sebastián Saavedra 52 12 11 11 6 8 9 9 13 211 12th
  Gustavo Yacamán 12 11 11 6 8 9 9 13
  Roberto González 12 11
  Nicholas Boulle 12
  José Gutiérrez
  Will Owen 9
 
DAY 1
 
DAY 2
 
SEB
 
MOH
 
BEL
 
WGL 1
 
WGL 2
 
ELK
 
LGA
 
LBH
 
ATL
Points Pos
2021   RWR Eurasia LMP2   Austin Dillon 51 4 0 NC
  Sven Müller 4
  Cody Ware 8 4
  Salih Yoluç 8 4

Race Victories

edit
Year Series Race Circuit Team Specification
2017 ELMS 4 Hours of Silverstone   Silverstone Circuit   United Autosports LMP2
ELMS 4 Hours of Red Bull Ring   Red Bull Ring   United Autosports LMP2
IMSA Continental Tire Road Race Showcase   Road America   Tequila Patron ESM Nissan DPi
IMSA America's Tire 250   Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca   VisitFlorida Racing LMP2
IMSA Motul Petit Le Mans   Road Atlanta   Tequila Patron ESM Nissan DPi
2018 IMSA Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring   Sebring International Raceway   Tequila Patron ESM Nissan DPi
IMSA Continental Tire Monterey Grand Prix   WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca   Tequila Patron ESM Nissan DPi
ELMS 4 Hours of Spa   Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps   United Autosports LMP2
ELMS 4 Hours of Portimao   Algarve International Circuit   United Autosports LMP2
2022 ESET Cup GT Sprint Race 1   Slovakia Ring   ARC Bratislava LMP2
ESET Cup GT Sprint Race 2   Slovakia Ring   ARC Bratislava LMP2

References

edit
  1. ^ Pruett, Marshall (24 January 2017). "IMSA 2017 Prototype Tech Profile: Ligier JS P217". Racer. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
  2. ^ a b c "Ligier JS P217". Onroak Automotive. Archived from the original on 25 May 2018. Retrieved 19 June 2017.
  3. ^ a b "Onroak Nissan DPi". Onroak Automotive. Archived from the original on 25 May 2018. Retrieved 19 June 2017.
  4. ^ Dagys, John (9 November 2016). "PR1 Ligier JS P217 Headlines November Daytona Test Entry". Sportscar365.com. Retrieved 19 June 2017.
  5. ^ "Ligier JS P217". Racecar Engineering. Retrieved 19 June 2017.
  6. ^ Dagys, John (December 1, 2018). "ESM Shutters Operations". Sportscar365. Retrieved 28 September 2020.
  7. ^ Lloyd, Daniel (August 22, 2019). "Bennett Announces Retirement; CORE DPi Program to End". Sportscar365. Retrieved 28 September 2020.
  8. ^ "Ligier JS PX". Ligier Automotive. Retrieved 2023-08-15.
  9. ^ Elsa (2021-12-07). "Ligier Automotive enters the sphere of unique and exceptional models with the Ligier JS PX". Ligier Automotive. Retrieved 2023-08-15.
  10. ^ Elsa (2023-01-13). "The Ligier JS PX stars in Gran Turismo film!". Ligier Automotive. Retrieved 2023-08-15.
edit

  Media related to Ligier JS P217 at Wikimedia Commons