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Ligier has confirmed the first three customers for its next-generation LMP2 car, the JS P228, which is scheduled to make its competitive debut in 2028.
Algarve Pro Racing, Inter Europol Competition and Panis Competition will campaign the new car when it becomes eligible for competition. All three teams have previous experience with Ligier’s current LMP2 machinery, having raced the JS P217 before Oreca’s dominance pushed them towards the widely used Oreca 07.
The announcement gives Ligier an important foundation ahead of the category’s forthcoming technical reset. Jacques Nicolet, president of Ligier Automotive, described the decision by the three teams as recognition of the company’s work on the new project.
“Seeing three teams of this calibre choose the Ligier JS P228 is a tremendous recognition of the work carried out by everyone at Ligier Automotive,” Nicolet said. “Algarve Pro Racing, Inter Europol Competition and Panis Racing are three highly experienced, successful teams with a deep commitment to endurance racing.”
LMP2 regulations are being overhauled for the first time since 2017. Ligier and Oreca have been selected as the designated chassis suppliers for the new rules, replacing the current framework in which four manufacturers—Dallara and Multimatic alongside Ligier and Oreca—can build cars to LMP2 specification.
Although the category was conceived as an open competition between those manufacturers, Oreca’s success effectively turned it into a one-make class. Its customer base expanded rapidly, while Ligier, Multimatic and Dallara shifted their attention towards partnerships with mainstream manufacturers on LMDh programmes for the World Endurance Championship and IMSA SportsCar Championship.
It has now been four years since a non-Oreca LMP2 car appeared at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The 2022 edition was the final Le Mans appearance for the Ligier JS P217, making the JS P228’s arrival a significant return for the French constructor.
The new cars will debut in the European Le Mans Series and at Le Mans in 2028, before becoming eligible for IMSA competition the following year. The early commitment from three established teams should give Ligier a meaningful presence from the outset.
Inter Europol Competition, Algarve Pro Racing and Panis Racing were all present at this year’s Le Mans. Inter Europol completed the strongest result of the group, winning the LMP2 class for a second consecutive year with an Oreca 07.
The return of Ligier, alongside Oreca’s expected customer line-up, could therefore restore the multi-manufacturer character that LMP2 was originally intended to provide. For the latest ELMS developments, see our coverage of the 4 Hours of Portimão season finale.
He’s a software engineer with a deep passion for Formula 1 and motorsport. He co-founded Formula Live Pulse to make live telemetry and race insights accessible, visual, and easy to follow.