Ligier set for F3 launch

The car is the product of a project which brought former F1 team boss Guy Ligier, Philippe Ligier and Tico Martini together in July this year when Guy Ligier acquired a significant shareholding in Automobiles Martini, which specialises in the construction of competitive racing cars.

"The Ligier JS47 will enable us to better develop our commercial potential," said Philippe Ligier, managing director, Automobiles Ligier. "The Formula 3 car will compete in the various international Formula 3 championships in 2005. Built from carbon fibre we designed the car to meet all the rules and regulations set by the FIA for 2005 in particular for improved safety in the case of front, side or rear impact.

"This new F3 car sets the precedent for design and marketing of racing cars of the future. It meets a genuine need from the racing world and enables us to grow our presence."

Alexandre Premat, runner up in the 2004 F3 Euroseries, and Tristan Gommendy (winner of the 2002 F3 Monaco Grand Prix) carried out the first track test of the Ligier JS47 at the circuit, just a few hundred metres from where the car was conceived, drawn and built.

Development of the JS47 - which can be fitted with a two-litre, four cylinder engine and uses a specially-developed six-speed sequential gearbox by Ligier - began on Monday at the ASA Armagnac Bigorre circuit at Nogaro in south-west France. The initial test is scheduled to last three days when a clearer picture will emerge of the car's potential and competitiveness against its rivals.

Guy Ligier, added: "It's always great to be involved in the birth of a new car. Taking the car from concept to creation is always special as is hearing that on track it behaves like our simulations predicted. To optimise the car we must now perform a long testing programme on track to learn more about the car's behaviour - this is always fascinating."