After two stellar seasons in 1979 and 1980, the French Ligier team steadily declined, culminating in a dismal 1983 season with zero points scored. To regain competitive form, Ligier once again partnered with French suppliers Renault (engine) and Michelin (tires).
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| LIGIER JS23, François Hesnault Zandvoort, Dutch GP 1984 |
The new Ligier JS23 finally featured a turbocharged engine: the Renault EF4 V6, specially prepared for Ligier by Mecachrome. The carbon-fiber monocoque chassis was designed by technical director Michel Beaujon, with the car’s aerodynamics handled by Claude Galopin and Henri Durand. The JS23 had a modern look, with a pointed nose, short sidepods, and a distinctive “coke-bottle” rear profile.
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| LIGIER JS23, François Hesnault Montecarlo, Monaco GP 1984 |
Beaujon also completely revised the gearbox and drivetrain, adapting a traditional Hewland unit to handle the powerful turbo torque, and introduced modern push-rod suspension. The wheelbase was 2810 mm, the weight 540 kg, and the official drivers were experienced Italian Andrea de Cesaris and rookie Frenchman François Hesnault.
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| LIGIER JS23, François Hesnault Monza, Italian GP 1984 |
Despite these innovations, the JS23 was not a winning car, and Ligier remained trapped in the lower end of the grid. The car’s poor performance meant the drivers achieved few results: Hesnault rarely finished races, and after scoring three points in the first four races, De Cesaris failed to score for the rest of the season.
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| LIGIER JS23, François Hesnault Monza, Italian GP 1984 |
Towards the end of the season, De Cesaris' car received minor updates in a “B” version, which did little to improve competitiveness. The three early-season points remained Ligier’s only score, earning the team ninth in the Constructors' Championship.
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