At the end of the 1978 season, Guy Ligier decided to abandon his patriotic project of bringing an all-French "équipe" to the top of Formula One, opting instead for the Ford-Cosworth DFV V8 engine. The English engine had a much narrower base, making it better suited to modern wing cars compared to the now outdated Matra V12. Designer Michel Beaujon and aerodynamicist Robert Choulet, under the guidance of chief designer and technical director Gérard Ducarouge, developed the Ligier JS11, an excellent ground-effect car used in the 1979 season.
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| LIGIER JS11, Patrick Depailler Jarama, Spanish GP 1979 |
The JS11 is rightly considered the best Ligier ever, or at least the one that came closest to truly fighting for a world title. Thanks to the well-tested Ford V8 engine, Ducarouge was finally able to create a monocoque aluminum chassis that maximized ground effect. Unlike its competitors, the French car continued to use a Hewland FGA six-speed gearbox, but the Ligier engineers completely redesigned it to optimize the rear space and create the widest possible diffuser tunnels, enhancing their efficiency. With a wheelbase of 2,794 mm and a weight of just 580 kg, the JS11 was a very well-designed, fast, and reliable single-seater, finally effective in terms of ground effect as well. Additionally, it was aesthetically pleasing, with smooth and harmonious shapes.
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| LIGIER JS11, Jacques Lafitte Montecarlo, Monaco GP 1979 |
Starting this season, the French team fielded two cars, and in the first two races, Ligier's home driver Jacques Laffite immediately secured two brilliant victories. Meanwhile, his teammate, fellow Frenchman Patrick Depailler, initially struggled to adapt to the new team but still achieved excellent placements. The third victory of the season for Ligier came thanks to Depailler himself at the fifth Grand Prix of the season in Spain.
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| LIGIER JS11, Jacky Ickx Zandvoort, Dutch GP 1979 |
Laffite and Depailler thus appeared to be the main contenders for the title, but the "magic" lasted only for the first half of the season. This came to an abrupt end due to Depailler's unfortunate hang-gliding accident, which sidelined him for the rest of the year. To replace him, Guy Ligier called upon veteran Belgian driver Jacky Ickx, who was uncomfortable with the modern ground-effect cars. The Belgian's poor performances, combined with an unexpected decline in the JS11's competitiveness, or possibly a lack of updates in response to the steady progress of both the Ferrari 312 T4 and the Williams FW07, meant that Ligier secured only three minor podium finishes in the second half of the championship.
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| LIGIER JS11, Patrick Depailler Montecarlo, Monaco GP 1979 |
By the end of the season, Equipe Ligier Gitanes still managed to finish third in the constructors' championship with 61 points. Jacques Laffite placed fourth in the drivers' standings with 36 points. With three wins, two second places, and two third places, the JS11 remained the most successful Ligier ever, as well as one of the most aesthetically captivating.
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