Equipe Ligier (lee-JEE-ay) is French motorsport team that competed in Formula One from 1976 to 1996. It was founded by former rugby player and racing driver Guy Ligier, who initially created Ligier in 1968.
In 1976, Guy Ligier bought the assets of the Matra team and started his F1 team, with a sole entry for Jacques Laffite. The team's first win was at the 1977 Swedish Grand Prix, the team took nine victories, fifty podiums, and one came second in the Constructors' Championship. In 1997, the team was sold to four-time World Champion Alain Prost who renamed the team Prost Grand Prix.
The chassis names, e.g. JS5, were named of honour of Jo Schlesser (J. S.), who was a friend of Guy Ligier.
History
1976-1978: Ligier-Matra first era
1979-1980: Ligier-Ford first era
1981-1982: Ligier-Matra second era
1983: Ligier-Ford second era
1984-1986: Ligier-Renault first era
1987: Ligier-Megatron
1988: Ligier-Judd
1989-1990: Ligier-Ford third era
1991-1994: Ligier-Renault second era
- Main article: 1991 Ligier Season, 1992 Ligier Season, 1993 Ligier Season and 1994 Ligier Season
1995-1996: Ligier-Mugen Honda
- Main article: 1995 Ligier Season and 1996 Ligier Season
Team Record
Team Names
| Years | Name |
|---|---|
| 1976, 1985-1986 | Equipe Ligier |
| 1977-1979 | Ligier Gitanes |
| 1980, 1983, 1985, 1990–1991 | Equipe Ligier Gitanes |
| 1981–1982 | Equipe Talbot Gitanes |
| 1984, 1987–1989 | Ligier Loto |
| 1992–1995 | Ligier Gitanes Blondes |
| 1996 | Ligier Gauloises Blondes |
Season-by-season record
Equipe Ligier Driver Count
| Name | Duration | Grand Prix Starts |
|---|---|---|
 Jacques Laffite
|
1976–1986 | 134 |
| René Arnoux
|
1986–1989 | 63 |
| Olivier Panis
|
1994–1996 | 49 |
 Thierry Boutsen
|
1991–1992 | 32 |
| Érik Comas
| ||
 Martin Brundle
|
1993, 1995 | 27 |
 Andrea de Cesaris
|
1984–1985 | |
| Philippe Alliot
|
1986, 1990 | 23 |
| Jean-Pierre Jarier
|
1977, 1981, 1983 | 18 |
| Mark Blundell
|
1993 | 16 |
 Pedro Diniz
|
1996 | |
| Nicola Larini
|
1990 | |
| Olivier Grouillard
|
1989 | |
 Stefan Johansson
|
1988 | |
| François Hesnault
|
1984 | |
 Eddie Cheever
|
1982 | |
| Raul Boesel
|
1983 | 15 |
| Didier Pironi
|
1980 | 15 |
| Éric Bernard
|
1994 | 13 |
| Jacky Ickx
|
1979 | 8 |
| Patrick Tambay
|
1981 | |
| Patrick Depailler
|
1979 | 7 |
 Aguri Suzuki
|
1995 | 6 |
| Franck Lagorce
|
1994 | 2 |
| Johnny Herbert
|
1994 | 1 |