LIGIER TO BUILD NEW CLUB PROTOTYPES

French firms enlists help of Radical founder to aid with design and development

French sportscar giant Ligier will launch a new range of club racing machines for 2018, with development led by Radical Cars founder Phil Abbott.

Ligier’s parent company, Onroak Automotive, has begun work on two new carbonfibre-tubbed models, which are designed to act as a stepping stone into LMP3 and LMP2 machinery.

The entry level model is anticipated to have 200bhp, with a larger chassis design set to boast 400bhp. Engines have yet to be decided, but MN understands that either a 1.6-litre turbo or a two-litre naturally aspirated unit are most likely.

Ligier’s expansion has come about after both Phil and Amanda Abbott joined the company recently after leaving Radical.

The Abbotts will now oversee the design and development of the new club racing Ligier range, with Phil Abbott saying he hoped the brand could spawn single-make series the way Radical had before it.

“This is a tremendously exciting opportunity, and to work with a company like Onroak is amazing,” he said. “I hit an impasse at Radical where I couldn’t see any steps forward and decided I needed a change, that’s when I got talking to [Onroak president] Jacques Nicolet and this concept came about.

“We’ve already begun work on two new models, and while they won’t be for sale until 2018, they’ll be out testing early next year. Our job is to plug the gap below LMP3 level.

“I took Radical as far as I could, and seeing Onroak’s facilities I know there’s scope to create something truly special here.”