theCar

Ligier JS P325

The third generation of LMP3, introduced in 2025: a closed prototype built by Ligier Automotive, here in Motorsport98’s orange and carbon.

• 4.605 mlong
• 1.90 mwide
• 2.86 mwheelbase

Toyota twin-turbo V6

Behind the driver, a 3.5-litre twin-turbo Toyota V6 (V35A-FTS). Its power goes to the rear wheels through a six-speed Xtrac sequential gearbox, operated by the paddles on the steering wheel.

• 470 hpof power
• 3,445 ccsix cylinders in a V
• 6gears

Downforce above all

Rear wing, central fin, flat floor and diffuser: at high speed, the air presses the car onto the track and lets it take corners far faster than a road car.

• 1adjustable wing
• 1safety fin
• Flat floorand diffuser

A carbon tub

The drivers sit in a carbon tub, with Zylon side panels against intrusion. A Bronze driver and a professional driver share the wheel during the race.

• Carbonmonocoque
• Zylonside panels
• 2drivers per car

Splitter and headlights

The front splitter sets the car’s balance. The LED headlights are also used to warn slower cars: a flash of the lights, and you pass.

• Splitteradjustable front
• LEDsfor the headlights
• Michelincontrol tyres

Brake late, pull away hard

Six-piston Brembo callipers and 360 mm discs on all four wheels, adjustable Öhlins dampers: the car is set up for every circuit.

• 6pistons per calliper
• 360 mmbrake discs
• Öhlinsdampers

At the wheel

You are in the driver’s seat. Everything is adjusted without letting go of the wheel: tap a control in the list or its ring, the camera moves in.

1. RadioMarked RADIO: as long as the button is held down, the helmet microphone is open and the driver talks to his engineer.
2. Headlight flashMarked FLASH: a flash of the headlights to warn a slower car before overtaking it.
3. PageMarked PAGE: changes the screen page — lap times, temperatures, pressures, fuel.
4. Pit limiterMarked PIT: the car no longer exceeds the speed allowed in the pit lane.
5. NeutralMarked NEUTRAL: to stop in the pits or get going again after a spin.
6. StarterMarked START: it fires up the engine.
7. Traction controlThe T-C knob: more or less help under acceleration, depending on grip and tyre wear.
8. Engine mappingThe MAP knob: throttle response and fuel consumption, depending on the moment in the race.
9. ScreenThe gear engaged in the centre (N: neutral). Around it: last and best lap, fuel used, pressures of all four tyres, traction control, rain light, water temperature and oil pressure.
10. Shift lightsTen LEDs, green, yellow then red. They light up one by one as the revs climb: full bar, change gear.
11. PaddlesBehind the wheel: right paddle shifts up, left paddle shifts down.

Dashboard

To the left of the wheel, fifteen illuminated buttons, each in its own colour. Around them: the main switch, the brake balance knob, the extinguisher, the helmet sockets, the gap display, the race control screen. Tap a line, the camera moves in.

1. MASTERThe big round button lit in green, next to the “AV” arrow: the “master” (or “main”), the car’s main switch. It is one of the very first buttons to switch on when starting the car.
2. IGNThe ignition: it powers up the car, before pressing START.
3. HEAD RESTIt checks that the headrest is properly locked in.
4. DRINKThe drinks pump: it sends a drink down the helmet tube.
5. SPAREA spare button: no function is assigned to it.
6. DEFOGWindscreen demister.
7. ACK“Seen”: the driver acknowledges an alarm shown on the screen, which then disappears.
8. LIGHTHeadlights.
9. RAINThe rear rain light, to stay visible in the spray. The steering wheel screen shows whether it is on (RAIN LIGHT).
10. FCYFull Course Yellow: when the race is neutralised, the button limits the car to 80 km/h.
11. HP1A service button specific to this car.
12. WIPERThe windscreen wiper.
13. STARTThe starter, like the green button on the steering wheel.
14. Left indicatorThe left indicator.
15. Right indicatorThe right indicator, for example to signal a pit entry.
16. KILLCuts the engine in a single move.
17. “AV” labelAbove the buttons, the red arrow shows which way to turn the green knob to send more braking to the front.
18. Brake balanceThe green knob, below the buttons: it sends more braking to the front or the rear, depending on grip and fuel load.
19. Fire extinguisher “E”The big red button marked with an E, to the left of the buttons: in case of fire, it sets off the on-board extinguisher.
20. Driver IDThe small black box on the side wall, to the right of the steering wheel. At each stint, the driver taking over identifies himself with the red button: the display shows his number, and timing knows who is driving and for how long.
21. Radio socketThe small red socket: the helmet cable plugs in here, it’s the radio link between the driver and the pit.
22. Drink socketThe helmet tube plugs in here. It is connected to a bottle in the car; the DRINK button sends a drink.
23. RacelogicThe display mounted above the dashboard. On track, it shows the live gap to the best lap, and its six LEDs say whether you are gaining or losing time. In the pits, it is set with the mandatory stop time: it counts down so you leave on exactly the right second. Here it shows −01.13: one second and thirteen hundredths better than the best lap.
24. Race control screenTo the left of the cockpit, facing the driver. Linked to race control, it repeats in the car what the marshals show: red for a red flag, yellow for a yellow flag, FCY when the race is neutralised, SC for the safety car. Here it is showing a Full Course Yellow.
25. VentilationThe air vent, to the right of the Racelogic: air comes in through the opening at the windscreen and arrives here, towards the driver.