Four competition Ligiers from the same collection and more on the McLaren P1 GTR ...
At various events, we have been treated to the sights and sounds of four fabulous Ligiers this year. Amazingly, each of these distinct machines is owned by the same French collector. The earliest of these, is the sole surviving Ligier JS1. Originally powered by an FVC Cosworth engine and later modified to accept a more docile Capri RS 2600 V6, this purpose built racer competed at Le Mans and in the Tour de France during the 1970 season. Only very rarely seen in public today, we captured it at the Le Mans Classic where, the JS1 sadly only completed a handful of laps in qualifying.
For 1971, Ligier introduced the all-new JS3, powered by a Cosworth DFV Formula 1 engine. While it showed great form, it only managed to win once and was abandoned at the end of the year. The unique JS3 also raced at this year's Le Mans Classic, while we also saw it in action at Dijon and Paul Ricard.
Altogether more successful was the Ligier JS2, which in its ultimate form also boasted a Cosworth DFV engine. One of just two surviving cars, the car seen in action this year won the Tour de France outright in 1974 while still fitted with a Maserati engine and in 1975 placed second overall at Le Mans.
Ligier then switched to Formula 1 and in 1979 came remarkably close to winning the World Championship with the hugely efficient JS11 Cosworth. Designed by Gerard Ducarouge, it dominated the opening half of the season. Our updated article now includes two of the four examples produced.
Meanwhile, McLaren have released new pictures of the upcoming P1 GTR. These include action photography and a look inside the highly anticipated track-day special. For good measure, we have also added a brief video about the P1 GTR program.
Enjoy the links:
1979 - 1980 Ligier JS11 Cosworth - Images, Specifications and Information
1975 Ligier JS2 Cosworth - Images, Specifications and Information
1971 Ligier JS3 Cosworth - Images, Specifications and Information
1969 - 1970 Ligier JS1 Ford - Images, Specifications and Information
2014 McLaren P1 GTR - Images, Specifications and Information
If you should see a man walking down a crowded street talking aloud to himself, don't run in the opposite direction, but run towards him, because he's a poet. You have nothing to fear from the poet - but the truth.
(Ted Joans)
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