Ligier JS39

Ligier

Industry	Formula One racing team
Headquarters	France
Products	Formula One cars

The Ligier JS39 represented the Formula One car fielded by the Ligier outfit throughout the 1993 and 1994 campaigns.

Making its first appearance at the 1993 South African Grand Prix, British driver Mark Blundell secured a third-place finish. The pinnacle of the JS39's achievements was a runner-up position earned by French racer Olivier Panis during the 1994 German Grand Prix.

Ligier JS39

Equipped with the Renault RS5 3.5-litre V10, chassis number 25 was piloted by seasoned Briton Martin Brundle, while number 26 was assigned to Mark Blundell. This model marked Ligier's initial use of a semi-automatic gearbox, though it maintained passive suspension technology. Across the 1993 season, the car attained three podium finishes and accumulated 23 points for the constructors, positioning Ligier fourth for much of the year before concluding in fifth place—their highest standing since 1986.

Ligier JS39B

For , the JS39B was introduced featuring an updated Renault RS6 3.5 V10 engine. Throughout the season, Olivier Panis occupied chassis number 26, with Éric Bernard, Johnny Herbert, and Franck Lagorce rotating through seat number 25; Lagorce also fulfilled test driver duties. Although it did not match its predecessor's competitiveness, the JS39B's dependable performance enabled Panis to achieve second place and Bernard third at the German Grand Prix, supplemented by only two other points-scoring finishes during that year.

A noteworthy event occurred in December 1994 when Michael Schumacher tested the JS39B at Estoril following Ligier’s takeover by Tom Walkinshaw and Flavio Briatore, who sought Schumacher’s evaluation of the car.

Sponsorship and livery

The visual design alterations between the JS39 and JS39B were subtle, replacing the prominent white stripes from the prior year with a white horizontal dash motif along the car’s flank. At events restricting tobacco advertising, such as in France, Gitanes branding was either substituted with a 'gypsy woman' emblem or removed entirely.

During this period, sponsor Les Pages Jaunes featured on the cars but did not return for subsequent seasons.

At both the 1993 Japanese and Australian races, Martin Brundle’s vehicle sported distinctive artwork created by Hugo Pratt.

Complete Formula One results

(key) (bold denotes pole position; italics indicate fastest lap)

Year	Chassis	Engine(s)	Tyres	Drivers	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	Points	WCC
	JS39	Renault V10			RSA	BRA	EUR	SMR	ESP	MON	CAN	FRA	GBR	GER	HUN	BEL	ITA	POR	JPN	AUS	23	5th
				Martin Brundle	Ret	Ret	Ret	3	Ret	6	5	5	14	8	5	7	Ret	6	9	6
				Mark Blundell	3	5	Ret	Ret	7	Ret	Ret	Ret	7	3	7	11	Ret	Ret	7	9
	JS39B	Renault V10			BRA	PAC	SMR	MON	ESP	CAN	FRA	GBR	GER	HUN	BEL	ITA	POR	EUR	JPN	AUS	13	6th
				Éric Bernard	Ret	10	12	Ret	8	13	Ret	13	3	10	10	7
				} References Detailed technical data