2020 Ligier JS2R †

To be offered by Iconic Auctioneers at the Race Retro Sale on Friday 23rd February.

Guide Price: £50,000 - £60,000

Ligier’s new GT, the JS2R, made its debut at the Paris Motor Show in 2018, the Ligier company's 50th anniversary year. It was inspired by the Ligier JS2 introduced in 1972, a car described as having superior driving dynamics and the best power-to-weight ratio in its class at the time, resulting in much success, including Le Mans in 1975. Although fully up-to-date, the JS2R borrowed many design cues from the JS2 and shared the same ethic, offering a pure race car that was accessible by drivers of differing sizes with limited budgets. Easy to drive, fast and robust, within the first two years it spawned two single-make championships: the Ligier JS Cup France and the Ligier European Series.

In only its first season, the Ligier JS Cup France already proved popular, with 25 cars entered for the first race at Le Mans and 27 for the fourth round at Magny-Cours. 'The Ligier JS Cup France is a great success' said Jacques Nicolet, the President of Ligier Automotive; 'It’s ideal for gentleman drivers who want to enjoy themselves in endurance races. Three free practice sessions of one hour each, one hour 30 minutes for qualifying and races of between three hours 30 minutes and six hours run over only two days. It’s a lot of driving! The Ligier JS2R was designed with this objective in mind - give drivers and teams a car to run without restraint. The car's very competitively priced, but what’s important is that the running costs are low and the revisions widely spaced.'

In standard form, motivation is provided by a Ford V6 3.7-litre power unit giving 350bhp, mated to a 6-speed sequential gearbox and an adjustable differential, all mounted on an FIA-homologated tubular chassis clothed in striking fibreglass bodywork. Suspension is courtesy of front and rear double wishbones, rear actuated pushrods, an adjustable anti-roll bar and dampers, the steering is electric power-assisted and retardation is supplied by Brembo with 6-pot pistons front and 4-pot at the rear, the discs being 343mm front and 328mm rear. The car is FIA Formula E II SH certifiable, suitable for tall drivers, has a Ligier bespoke steering wheel with integrated dashboard, ventilation system and a heated windscreen as standard.

This particular example was purchased new on 1st February 2020 at a cost of €105,000 plus nearly €20,000 of additional extras (EVO upgrade kit, life data-logging system, air-jack kit and a 30-litre fuel cell). During the 2021 and 2022 seasons it ran in the Ligier JS Cup France with just one race in the Ligier European Series in Monza. It was imported into the UK in November 2022 and has been used sparingly by our vendor, the most recent outing being the MSVR Motor Racing Legends Meeting in October 2023 where the car ran in the Motor Racing Legends GT4 race having started second on the grid. This series is recognised as one of the most cost-effective ways into Endurance Racing and provides a unique prize money scheme of €100,000 to allow drivers to climb the endurance ladder.

The car was totally refreshed after its last outing in October 2023 with fresh fluids, a new battery and was fitted with new drop links, now ready for its next outing and showing just 14,000km from new. Guided very competitively, this super JS2R may well appeal to someone looking for a competitive endurance racing package that offers reliability, sensible running costs and no need to upgrade every few months.

Please note this is a VAT qualifying vehicle.