Ligier JS19 Matra

   In 1981, Guy Ligier reached an agreement with Matra for the exclusive use of naturally aspirated V12 engines and, looking toward the 1982 season, hoped to use the new Matra V6 turbo engine. However, the French turbo engine remained a project in gestation and was never completed. As a result, the development of the new JS19 car suffered significant delays, forcing the Talbot Gitanes team to begin the season with a slightly evolved version of the previous year’s car, the Ligier JS17B.

 LIGIER JS19, Jacques Laffite
Brands Hatch, British GP 1982

   With this car, redesigned at the rear to improve heat dissipation from the V12 Matra engine, returning French driver Jacques Laffite and the team’s first-ever non-French driver, American Eddie Cheever, competed in the first three races of the season, but only collected retirements due to mechanical failures. After skipping the controversial San Marino Grand Prix, the new Ligier JS19 debuted in Monaco, marking the beginning of Jean-Pierre Jabouille’s tenure as Technical Director. Jabouille had been forced to retire from racing due to lingering effects of his severe crash at the 1980 Canadian Grand Prix.

 LIGIER JS19, Jacques Laffite
Montecarlo, Monaco GP 1982

   Designer Michel Beaujon developed an aluminum monocoque chassis without using the now-essential synthetic fibers, onto which was mounted the old Matra MS81 V12 naturally aspirated engine, heavy and outdated for modern Formula 1 standards. The new JS19 had a highly aggressive ground-effect design and refined aerodynamics, featuring a tight rear end with venturi tunnels and skirts extending to the rear wing. The rear suspension’s linkage was integrated into the airflow path to maximize downforce.

LIGIER JS19, Jacques Laffite
Montecarlo, Monaco GP 1982

   Unveiled in Monaco, the car was deemed non-compliant due to the length of its skirts relative to bodywork shape. The mandatory removal of the rear skirt sections beyond the rear axle, imposed by the stewards, compromised the car’s performance. Thus, the Ligier team had to revert to the old JS17B for several races while designers Jabouille and Beaujon revised the JS19 in the wind tunnel to bring it into compliance.

 LIGIER JS19, Eddie Cheever
Brands Hatch, British GP 1982

   Once proper aerodynamic balance was achieved, the JS19 returned to the track mid-season. However, its troubled start had already impacted its competitive prospects. Born from a brilliant concept by Jabouille, the JS19 could have brought success to Ligier, but the long development period significantly hindered its season, as reflected by podiums earned only in the final races by Laffite and Cheever. After three excellent seasons during which Ligier had been a contender for world titles, the French team returned to mediocrity in 1982, collecting only 20 points and finishing eighth in the Constructors' Championship.