Guy Ligier

Guy Ligier
Guy Ligier
Born	July 12, 1930 (age 96); France
Died	August 23, 2015 (aged 85); Nevers, France
Occupation(s)	Racing driver, Formula One team owner, businessman
Known for	Founder of Ligier Cars and Équipe Ligier Formula One team

Guy Camille Ligier (; 12 July 1930 – 23 August 2015) was a multifaceted French figure known for his roles as a racing driver and Formula One team proprietor, with professional experiences spanning rugby, butchery, and construction.

He was the patriarch of Philippe and Pascale Ligier and grandfather to Etienne Ligier, who once pursued a career in French motorsports.

The early years

Orphaned at seven, Ligier left formal education during his teenage years to assist in a butcher shop in Vichy. Demonstrating athletic prowess and competitiveness, he secured the French rowing championship title in 1947 and represented the French Army rugby team during his National Service, eventually earning selection for France's national B rugby squad before injuries curtailed his rugby ambitions.

Accumulating savings from his butchery work, Ligier ventured into the construction sector in 1960 by initially leasing machinery and soon acquiring a bulldozer. With backing from Pierre Coulon, then Mayor of Vichy, he established "Ligier Travaux Publics." Leveraging the surge in motorway construction across France, his enterprise expanded swiftly, employing approximately 1,200 personnel and managing 500 machines by 1961. He broadened operations to include projects involving bridges, dams, and urban development, while cultivating significant political alliances with figures such as François Mitterrand and Pierre Bérégovoy.

Following his rugby career, Ligier transitioned into motorcycle racing, capturing the French 500cc Motorbike Championship consecutively in 1959 and 1960 riding a Norton Manx "LA."

Racing driver

Ligier initiated his racing career in 1957 behind the wheel of a Simca 1300, making his single-seater debut in 1960 with an Formula Junior Elva-DKW at Monaco and Montlhéry circuits.

By 1964, he competed in Porsche sports cars for Auguste Veuillet's team, achieving seventh place at the 1964 24 Hours of Le Mans driving a 904 Carrera GTS. That same year, Ford France contracted him to pilot Formula 2 Brabham vehicles alongside teammate Jo Schlesser. Ligier's inaugural race resulted in a fifth-place finish at Enna-Pergusa, marking the commencement of his dedicated racing pursuits at age 34.

In 1965, Ligier secured victory at the 24th Grand Prix de Albi Sports event driving a GT40 for Ford. The next year saw him finish second in the "Rallye des Routes du Nord" behind the wheel of a rented Shelby Mustang GT350.

Ligier entered Formula One as an independent competitor at the 1966 Monaco Grand Prix with a self-owned Cooper T81-Maserati, though he failed to score points across five starts. During that season, he and Schlesser became exclusive distributors of Ford-Shelby products within France. Teaming again in a Ford France GT40, they achieved fifth place at the Nürburgring 1000 km. Ligier's season was cut short due to a serious knee injury that nearly necessitated amputation but was ultimately prevented by Schlesser's intervention.

In 1967, he entered the British Grand Prix driving a Brabham BT20-Repco and earned his sole Formula One World Championship point with an effective sixth-place finish at the German Grand Prix. That year also saw him claim victory at the 12 Hours of Reims sharing a Ford GT40 Mk IIB with Schlesser.

With Ford France scaling back its motorsport activities in 1968, Ligier co-established Ecurie InterSport alongside Schlesser and José Behra, fielding McLaren Formula 2 vehicles. The tragic death of Schlesser during his Formula One debut at the French Grand Prix that year prompted Ligier to retire from active racing.

Although he briefly competed in a Ford Escort TC in 1969, Ligier returned to endurance racing in 1970 at the 24 Hours of Le Mans with his own creation, the Ligier JS1, continuing participation in endurance events until 1974.

Throughout his career, Ligier took part in thirteen Formula One Grands Prix, accumulating one championship point attributed to an eighth-place finish at the 1966 German Grand Prix—benefiting from F2 competitors ahead being ineligible for points.

Additional racing achievements

Victorious in the GT Class at the 1963 Coupes du Salon held in Montlhéry, driving a Porsche 356 Carrera;
Winner of the 1964 Coupes de vitesse at Montlhéry with a Porsche 904 GTS;
Triumphed at Magny-Cours in 1965 behind the wheel of a Ford GT40;
Claimed victory at the 1965 Grand Prix d'Albi (non-championship) piloting a Ford GT40;
Secured Class S (3L) victory and finished fifth overall at the 1966 1000 km Nürburgring, driving a Ford GT40 alongside Schlesser;
Achieved Class S (>2L) win and sixth place overall at the 1967 1000 km Monza with Schlesser in a Ford GT40;
Won the 12 Heures de Reims in 1967 driving a Ford Mk.IIB partnered with Schlesser;
Captured the Special Class title at the 1969 Coupes de vitesse (Montlhéry) in a Ford Escort TC.

Founder and team principal

In 1968, Ligier established Ligier Cars to manufacture sports racing automobiles, fulfilling a shared ambition with his late collaborator Jo Schlesser. The initial prototype, the JS1, was designed by Michel Têtu and named as a homage to Schlesser. Production of only three JS1 units preceded the transition to the JS2 model.

Between these vehicles, Ligier developed the JS3 racing prototype. After modest achievements in sports car racing, Ligier shifted focus to Formula 1 by acquiring assets from Equipe Matra Sports. With Gerard Ducarouge as chief designer and Matra V12 power units, Équipe Ligier debuted in 1976, enjoying early accomplishments with drivers such as Jacques Laffite, Patrick Depailler, and Didier Pironi.

The presidency of François Mitterrand beginning in 1981 provided significant support for Ligier; state-owned enterprises including Elf and Gitanes became sponsors. Political backing facilitated access to Renault engines during 1984–1986 and again from 1992–1994, although Ligier typically received previous-generation units due to exclusive agreements with Lotus and Williams.

The collaboration between Ligier, Mitterrand, and Bérégovoy reached its zenith in the early 1990s with the redevelopment of Magny-Cours as both Ligier’s operational base and the venue for the French Grand Prix.

Ligier's last Formula 1 triumph occurred at the 1996 Monaco Grand Prix with driver Olivier Panis.

Throughout eighteen years of competition, Équipe Ligier participated in 326 Grands Prix, secured 50 podium finishes, achieved nine victories, placed second in the 1980 World Championship standings, and produced over twenty Formula 1 chassis—hosting many renowned drivers during its existence.

Life after Formula 1

Following the dissolution of the Monica automobile firm in 1975, Ligier acquired its French holdings and remaining cars but chose not to recommence manufacturing.

Shifting away from sports car and Formula 1 production, Ligier diversified during the 1980s by initially manufacturing tractor cabins before introducing "voitures sans permis," or microcars. The Ligier JS4 was a two-door microcar featuring a steel monocoque chassis with a glass rear door, powered by a 49 cc Motobécane engine. This model complied with new French regulations permitting two-seater microcars without a driving license.

In anticipation of political changes in 1992, Ligier sold his Formula 1 team to Cyril de Rouvre, who later transferred ownership in 1994 to Flavio Briatore. The proceeds from these transactions allowed Ligier to enter the natural fertilizer industry based in central France. Despite political upheavals following the 1993 elections, Ligier retained an ambassadorial role with the team until its sale to Alain Prost in 1997, when it was rebranded as Prost Grand Prix.

In 2004, Ligier acquired a controlling interest in Automobiles Martini, incorporating his "Ligier JS" branding into models such as the JS49, JS51, and JS53.

The Ligier name returned to motorsport prominence in 2014 when Jacques Nicolet's Onroak Automotive began producing vehicles including the Ligier JS P2 prototype that competed in both the FIA World Endurance Championship and 24 Hours of Le Mans. Additionally, Ligier’s son became involved as a constructor of Formula 3 cars.

Guy Ligier passed away on August 23, 2015, in Nevers; his funeral service took place at St. Blaise de Vichy. He is survived by his wife along with two children named Philippe and Pascale.

Honours

Chevalier/Member of the Legion of Honour.

24 Hours of Le Mans results

Year	Team	Co-Drivers	Vehicle	Category	Laps Completed	Pos.	Class Pos.
1964	Template:Country data FRA Template:Namespace detect showall Auguste Veuillet	Template:Country data FRA Template:Namespace detect showall Robert Buchet	Porsche 904/4 GTS	GT 2.0	323	7th	1st
1965	Template:Country data FRA Template:Namespace detect showall Ford France S.A.	Template:Country data FRA Template:Namespace detect showall Maurice Trintignant	Ford GT40	P 5.0	11	DNF	DNF
1966	Template:Country data FRA Template:Namespace detect showall Ford France S.A.	United States Bob Grossman	Ford GT40	S 5.0	205	DNF	DNF
1967	Template:Country data FRA Template:Namespace detect showall Ford France S.A.	Template:Country data FRA Template:Namespace detect showall Jo Schlesser	Ford Mk IIB	P +5.0	183	DNF	DNF
1970	Template:Country data FRA Template:Namespace detect showall Automobiles Ligier	Template:Country data FRA Template:Namespace detect showall Jean-Claude Andruet	Ligier JS1-Ford Cosworth	P 2.0	65	DNF	DNF
1971	Template:Country data FRA Template:Namespace detect showall Automobiles Ligier	Template:Country data FRA Template:Namespace detect showall Patrick Depailler	Ligier JS3-Ford Cosworth	P 3.0	270	NC	NC
1972	Template:Country data FRA Template:Namespace detect showall Automobiles Ligier	Template:Country data FRA Template:Namespace detect showall Jean-François Piot	Ligier JS2-Maserati	S 3.0	7	DNF	DNF
1973	Template:Country data FRA Template:Namespace detect showall Automobiles Ligier	Template:Country data FRA Template:Namespace detect showall Jacques Laffite	Ligier JS2-Maserati	S 3.0	24	"DSQ"	"DSQ"

Source: RacingSportCars

Formula One World Championship results

(Template:F1 driver results legend 2#key)

Year	Entrant	Chassis	Engine	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	"WDC"	Points

|- | 1966 Formula One season ! Guy Ligier ! Cooper Car Company Cooper T81 ! Maserati in motorsport Maserati 9/F1 3.0 V12 | | | | | | | | | | ! NC !0 |- |rowspan=2 |1967 Formula One season !rowspan=2 |Guy Ligier ! Cooper Car Company Cooper T81 ! Maserati 9/F1 3.0 V12 | | | | | | | | | ! 19th !1 |- !Brabham Brabham BT20 !Repco#Repco V8 engine Repco 620 3.0 V8 | | | | | | ! 8* | | | |}

Notes

In the 1967 German Grand Prix, Ligier was classified eighth but received points corresponding to sixth place due to two Formula Two drivers ahead being ineligible for points.

Formula One Non-Championship Results

(key)

Year	Entrant	Chassis	Engine	1	2	3	4	5	6
1966	Guy Ligier	Cooper T81	Maserati 9/F1 3.0 V12	RSA	SYR NC	INT DNS	OUL
1967	Guy Ligier	Cooper T81	Maserati 9/F1 3.0 V12	ROC DNS	SPR	INT Ret	SYR	OUL	ESP
Template:Center

Complete European Formula Two Championship Results

(key)

Year	Entrant	Chassis	Engine	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Pos.	Pts
1968	Ecurie Inter-Sport	McLaren M4A	Ford	HOC Ret	THR 8	JAR Ret	PAL DNS						NC	0

External links

Other references

LIGIER Sport & Prototypes 1969–1975 et 2014 by Jean-Marc Teissedre. Language: French.
Guy Ligier (French) Paperback – 1976 by Jean-Pierre Gosselin. Publisher: Solar (1976). Language: French.
L'Épopée Ligier en Formule 1 (French) Paperback. – ASIN: B01GFJZI56