Guy Ligier
Born: |
12 Jul 1930 |
Died: |
23 Aug 2015 |
Nationality: |
France |
Grands Prix: | 12 (1966-1967) |
F2 starts: | 3 (1968) |
Teams: | Ligier (1976-1992) |
Ran a successful Formula 1 team for years. Sadly died in 2015 after an extended period of failing health. Despite increased fraility, he still worked on road and micro cars and also returned to motorsport as a Formula 3 constructor, albeit this was more through his sons' involvement, but the Ligier name was also involved in sports cars, through Jacques Nicolet, and one of Ligier's last racing appearances was at the Le Mans event in 2015. Ligier also co-owned Martini cars and the Magny Cours race circuit, as well as still being involved in a natural fertiliser firm. Although Ligier's legacy to the sport is always going to be his team, he was also a capable racing driver, who also appeared in rallying after switching to the sport from rugby, which he originally played. Ligier was originally working in a butchers when he saved enough money to invest in the construction business at a boom time for the industry. Guy got into racing because of his friend Jo Schlesser, but when Jo died in 1968, Guy quit racing. However he kept his friend's memory alive by naming all his cars JS in tribute.
Biography last updated 27 Aug 2015