Guy Ligier passes away at the age of 85

Guy Ligier, a former Formula One driver and team owner, passed away yesterday at the age of 85. Guy Camille Ligier was born on July 12th 1930. He was most widely known as an owner of a F1 team from 1974 to 1992.

Ligier began his career as a racing driver at the end of the 1950s. He started the Le Mans 24 Hours on eight occasions between 1964 and 1974 in a Porsche (1964), Ford (1965/66/67) and then Ligiers (1970/71/72/73). He scored his best result in the Sarthe in 1964 on his maiden outing finishing seventh overall and winning in his category in a Porsche 904 GTS.

He also took part in 12 F1 Grand Prix races between 1966 and 1967. He drove a privately entered Cooper T81 (Maserati) and Brabham BT20 (Repco). His best finish was 8th place in the 1967 German Grand Prix. He retired from racing in 1968 after his good friend Jo Schlesser was killed at French Grand Prix. He decided that he would build racing cars and his first car was named Ligier JS1, with initials as a tribute to Jo Schlesser.

In 1974, his company bought the assets of Matra Sports and his F1 team was grounded. Guy Ligier was the owner until 1992. In modern times, Ligier’s name has been associated with popular road legal micro-cars and racing prototypes which continue to compete in championships like the WEC, ELMS, IMSA Tudor USCC and 24h Le Mans.

;

Photo: DPPI