Ligier JS37

Ligier JS37

Company type	Racing car
Industry	Motorsport
Founded	1992
Founder	Frank Dernie, Gérard Ducarouge
Headquarters	France
Products	Formula One car

The Ligier JS37 was a Formula One vehicle crafted by Frank Dernie and Gérard Ducarouge for the Équipe Ligier squad during the 1992 Formula One World Championship. Equipped with the Renault RS3 V10 power unit and outfitted with Goodyear tyres, the car was piloted by Belgian driver Thierry Boutsen and Frenchman Érik Comas, both embarking on their second year with Ligier.

Making its first appearance at the 1992 South African Grand Prix, the JS37 achieved its highest placements with two fifth-place finishes: Comas at the French Grand Prix and Boutsen at the Australian Grand Prix.

Design and development

For the 1992 season, team principal Guy Ligier secured the use of the Renault RS3 3.5L V10 engine, which Mecachrome serviced under a $12 million yearly contract. Initially, the team utilized the RS3B variant before switching to the upgraded RS3C units starting from the Hungarian Grand Prix. This engine delivered around 770 bhp at 14,200 rpm.

The chassis was a carbon fibre monocoque developed by Dernie with contributions from Ducarouge, incorporating aerodynamic insights derived from the discontinued Reynard F1 project. The car featured a Ligier/Xtrac six-speed transverse gearbox, double wishbone pushrod suspension equipped with Bilstein dampers, AP brakes paired with Carbone Industrie pads, and steering mechanisms designed by Ligier. It ran on Goodyear tyres and measured a wheelbase of , front track , rear track , weighing in at . Fuel and lubricants were provided by Elf, with a fuel tank capacity of .

The JS37 showcased a blue color scheme complemented by white sidepods and was sponsored by Gitanes Blondes, Loto Sportif, and Elf. Although visually appealing, it struggled aerodynamically and underwent mid-season modifications to its suspension and bodywork to enhance handling, particularly on uneven tracks.

Race history

Prior to the 1992 campaign, Alain Prost tested the JS37 with intentions to join Ligier after departing Ferrari but eventually opted not to sign. Consequently, junior driver Érik Comas, who had driven for Ligier in 1991, continued alongside Thierry Boutsen.

At its debut in the 1992 South African Grand Prix, the JS37 qualified 13th (Comas) and 14th (Boutsen). During the race, both were running in 7th and 8th positions by lap 41 before Boutsen retired due to electrical faults; Comas completed in 7th place. The team faced grip difficulties at the 1992 Mexican Grand Prix, where Comas qualified last and Boutsen 22nd; neither scored points.

Upgrades to front wings and undertray at the 1992 Brazilian Grand Prix enabled Boutsen to qualify 10th and Comas 15th. Both drivers held points-scoring positions until colliding on lap 37; Boutsen retired immediately while Comas later exited due to engine failure. In Spain, Comas secured 10th on the grid with Boutsen 14th; both were forced to retire because of mechanical problems and driver errors.

At the 1992 San Marino Grand Prix, Boutsen qualified 10th and reached as high as 7th before retiring with engine issues; Comas finished in 9th despite ongoing grip challenges. Monaco proved difficult as poor traction restricted qualifying positions to 22nd (Boutsen) and 23rd (Comas), resulting in finishes outside point-scoring range.

Grip troubles persisted at the 1992 Canadian Grand Prix, where although Boutsen qualified ahead, Comas finished sixth—earning Ligier’s first points in 48 races as well as Comas’ inaugural career points—while Boutsen came home tenth. During their home event at the 1992 French Grand Prix, Comas achieved a best result of fifth after qualifying tenth; Boutsen spun off while running within points after starting ninth.

At the 1992 British Grand Prix, both drivers ended outside points: Comas in eighth and Boutsen tenth. Comas gained another point in Germany by finishing sixth from seventh on the grid; Boutsen followed closely in seventh place. In Hungary, enhanced Renault RS3C engines improved qualifying results (Boutsen eighth, Comas eleventh), but a first-lap collision eliminated both competitors.

Comas missed Belgium due to a severe crash; Boutsen recorded his best qualifying of seventh but spun out during the race following an ill-timed tire change amid wet conditions. In Italy, Boutsen qualified eighth and climbed as high as fifth before retiring because of fuel system failure; Comas spun off while running seventh.

In Portugal, Boutsen finished eighth after qualifying eleventh; Comas retired from eighth position owing to engine failure. At Japan, both drivers failed to finish: Comas suffered engine failure while in seventh place; Boutsen experienced gearbox problems after qualifying inside the top ten.

During the season finale in Australia, Comas retired early due to gearbox failure from ninth on the grid; despite a poor qualifying position of 22nd, Boutsen managed to secure a points-paying fifth place.

Comas concluded the Drivers' Championship ranked eleventh with four points; Boutsen earned two points, tying for fourteenth place. Ligier’s total of six points resulted in a shared seventh position in the Constructors' Championship alongside Footwork Arrows.

Full Formula One Results

(key) (bold figures denote pole positions; italicized figures signify fastest laps)

Season	Team	Power Unit	Tyre Supplier	Competitors	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	Championship Points	Constructors' Standing
Template:F1	Ligier Gitanes Blondes	Renault V10	Template:Goodyear		RSA	MEX	BRA	ESP	SMR	MON	CAN	FRA	GBR	GER	HUN	BEL	ITA	POR	JPN	AUS	6	7th
				Thierry Boutsen	Retired	10th	Retired	Retired	Retired	12th	10th	Retired	10th	7th	Retired	Retired	Retired	8th	Retired	5th
				Érik Comas	7th	9th	Retired	Retired	9th	10th	6th	5th	8th	6th	Retired	Did Not Qualify	Retired	Retired	Retired