The Onroak Automotive Ligier JS P2 turns a wheel for the first time

The new closed LM P2, the Ligier JS P2, turned a wheel for the first time on the Le Mans Bugatti circuit. For Onroak Automotive the shakedown was very positive as it validated on the track all the work carried out over the past several months.

The French team enjoyed excellent running conditions for the first shakedown of its new closed LM P2 prototype. The Ligier JS P2 shod with Dunlop tyres and powered by a Nissan engine covered over 60 laps in the afternoon without running into any major problems.

After months of work the design office run by Nicolas Clémençon and the technical squad, who built the car, took full advantage of its first day on the track. The way in which the new car reeled off the laps proved that it’s quick out of the box, and the team managed by its technical director, Thierry Bouvet, will be able to begin a full development programme.

Young British driver, Alex Brundle, was at the wheel of the Ligier JS P2 for its shakedown. Olivier Pla, who is in Sebring at present, will take over the development work on this new prototype.

This programme should enable the Ligier JS P2 to be fully competitive for its maiden outing, which will be in the Le Mans 24 Hours this coming June.

Guy Ligier : "This is a very emotional moment for me, and it’s also a great pleasure to be here with the whole team for the shakedown of this car whose career has got off to a promising start. I’d like to thank Jacques Nicolet with all my heart for having given me this fantastic opportunity to experience Ligier’s return to endurance and to share such an adventure. Racing’s my whole life and I hope that we’ll do a lot of things together. Now we have to begin the development phase. Of course, there’s much work to be done, but today the team’s proved that we have a great base ."

Alex Brundle : "The first feeling is good in term of driver comfort, a lot better than I expected. The visibility is always an issue in closed cars, but I happy to say that in ours it isn’t too bad at all, a lot better than expected. We ran quick stints today with good tyres with very few problems. Of course, there are some things to be refined and honed: overall the car is very good. I have every confidence in the job done by the team and I would like to thank them very much for their hard work putting it all together. We have a full testing programme in place before the car debuts and we have to explore every avenue. I’m happy with the overall feeling and confident so far although we still have a way to go. The base is good and we can work from that ."

Jacques Nicolet : "I’m very happy and very impressed by the quality of the work carried out by all the Onroak Automotive teams. The Ligier JS P2 was able to cover some sixty laps without problems. This is very satisfactory as it will enable us to devote ourselves to setting up the car without pressure. It’s obvious that the JS P2’s quick out of the box and for the moment that’s the essential thing. A big bravo to all those who have been involved in this project either closely or from afar!"

Onroak Automotive