Yesterday, during a web conference live from Le Mans, the Automobile Club de l’Ouest unveiled the official lists of entries for the 2017 Le Mans 24 Hours, the World Endurance Championship and the European Le Mans Series. 15 teams have entered 20 Onroak Automotive chassis: 6 Ligier JS P217s and 14 Ligier JS P3s.
This year Onroak Automotive is again very well represented in the European Le Mans Series with 19 Ligiers expected on the grid. Five Ligier JS P217s, the new LM P2 produced in the Sarthe workshops, have been entered for the European championship. They will compete against the new Oreca 07s and Dallara P217s making up a big field of 13 LM P2s in the premium category of the series.
The obvious appeal of the LM P3 category and of the Ligier JS P3 in particular, to teams has been confirmed in the ACO’s European series. Among the 16 LM P3s entered are no fewer than 14 Ligier JS P3s as well as two new Norma M30s.
Numerous teams have renewed their confidence in Onroak Automotive by continuing with the Ligier JS P3 or opting for the Ligier JS P217. The following have decided to run these cars in the ELMS: Algarve Pro Racing, By Speed Factory, Duqueine Engineering, Eurointernational, IDEC Sport Racing, Inter Europol Competition, Panis Barthez Compétition, RLR Msport, Tockwith Motorsports, United Autosports, Ultimate, Yvan Muller Racing and 360 Racing.
AT Racing has also chosen an Onroak Automotive car and it has joined the French constructor in 2017.
In June, Ligier will also have a strong presence in the mythical Le Mans 24 Hours with six cars entered for the LM P2 category.
Thanks to their titles in the ELMS LM P3, Asian Le Mans Series and Asian LMS LM P3, United Autosports, Algarve Pro Racing and Tockwith Motorsports have been given an invitation for the Le Mans 24 Hours and they will each run a Ligier JS P217 in parallel to their entry in the ELMS.
The ACO selection committee had also accepted the entries of IDEC Sport Racing, Panis Barthez Compétition and Eurasia Motorsport, which will also race a Ligier JS P217 in the Sarthe classic. RLR Msport is the first reserve so there could be an additional Ligier JS P217 on the grid.
On 28-29 March the ELMS entrants will take to the Monza circuit for the pre-season official tests before the first race, the Silverstone 4 Hours, on 15th April. The Le Mans test day will be held on 4th June and the race on the weekend of 17-18 June.
Jacques Nicolet, Onroak Automotive President: “Again I would like to thank all the teams that have renewed their confidence in us this year as well as those who are joining us. The on-going success of the Ligier JS P3 needs no further proof, and we hope that we will very soon share fresh victories with the new Ligier JS P217 with our teams.
“The setting up and the efficiency of our client support service are still among our major priorities and we will accompany our teams at all the rounds of the ELMS. During the Le Mans fortnight they can take advantage of our infrastructures. The proximity of our workshops based in the heart of the circuit is a real benefit as we can intervene in real time if required.
I’d also like to congratulate the ACO. The unveiling of these lists proves the uncontested success of endurance in Europe and throughout the world, and the exceptional quality of the fields promises some great racing in 2017.”
