Ligier JS37

The Ligier JS37 was a Formula One car used by the Ligier team during the 1992 Formula One season. Its best finish in a race was fifth, which it achieved twice.

Ligier JS37

Category	Formula One
Constructor	Ligier
Designer(s)	Frank Dernie
Predecessor	Ligier JS35
Successor	Ligier JS39
Technical specifications[1]
Chassis	Carbon Fibre Monocoque
Axle track	Front: 1,680 mm (66 in) Rear: 1,800 mm (71 in)
Wheelbase	2,900 mm (110 in)
Engine	Renault RS3C, 3,493 cc (213.2 cu in), V10, NA, mid-engine, longitudinally mounted
Transmission	Ligier XTrac, 6 speed
Weight	505kg
Fuel	Elf
Tyres	Goodyear
Competition history
Notable entrants	Ligier Gitanes Blondes
Notable drivers	25. Thierry Boutsen 26. Érik Comas
Debut	1992 South African Grand Prix
Races Wins Poles F.Laps 16 0 0 0

Development

For the 1992 season, team owner Guy Ligier secured the use of the Renault RS3 3.5 V10 engine, maintained by Mecachrome. The team initially used the RS3B model, before being upgraded to a supply of RS3Cs later in the year.[2]

The chassis was designed by Frank Dernie, with some input from Gérard Ducarouge and using the aerodynamic research data and windtunnel model from the stillborn Reynard F1 project.[3] Although aesthetically pleasing, the JS37 was poor aerodynamically[4] and needed to be revised during the season, as did the suspension. Prior to the start of the season, Alain Prost test drove the JS37 several times with a view to joining the team after his dismissal from Ferrari the previous year. However, he opted out of racing with the team and Érik Comas, Ligier's junior driver who had raced for the team the previous year, drove instead. Thierry Boutsen continued with the team having also driven for it during the 1991 season.[2]

Race History

The JS37 was generally a midfield runner which retired from nearly half the races it started. It did not handle bumpy circuits well and performance suffered as a result, with particularly poor qualifying efforts in Mexico, Monaco and Canada. Comas failed to qualify for one race, the Belgian Grand Prix, after a heavy crash in practice on the Friday of the race. Knocked unconscious, he did not participate any further in the race weekend.[5]

Comas did secure three finishes in the points during the mid-season, including a best of fifth at the French Grand Prix. He overcame the bumpy circuit to finish sixth in Canada, having qualified a poor 22nd, scoring the team's first point in almost three years. He also finished sixth at Germany, where he achieved his best qualifying position of seventh. Boutsen finished in the points only once, fifth at the season ending Australian Grand Prix.[1]

Complete Formula One results

(key) (results in bold indicate pole position; results in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year	Entrant	Engine	Tyres	Drivers	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	Points	WCC
1992	Ligier Gitanes Blondes	Renault V10	G		RSA	MEX	BRA	ESP	SMR	MON	CAN	FRA	GBR	GER	HUN	BEL	ITA	POR	JPN	AUS	6	8th
				Thierry Boutsen	Ret	10	Ret	Ret	Ret	12	10	Ret	10	7	Ret	Ret	Ret	8	Ret	5
				Érik Comas	7	9	Ret	Ret	9	10	6	5	8	6	Ret	DNQ	Ret	Ret	Ret	Ret

References

Citations

1. Stats F1. "Ligier JS37". Retrieved 3 December 2012.
2. Constanduros, 1992, pp. 76–77
3. "JBF1: Fascinating F1 Facts: 11". Joe Saward. Motorsport Week. Retrieved 20 December 2018.
4. Hodges 2001, p. 126.
5. Hamilton, 1992, pp. 204–209

Bibliography

• Constanduros, Bob (1992). "Team Review: Ligier". In Henry, Alan (ed.). Autocourse 1992–93. Richmond, Surrey, England: Hazelton Publishing. pp. 76–77.
• Hamilton, Maurice (1992). "Belgian Grand Prix". In Henry, Alan (ed.). Autocourse 1992–93. Richmond, Surrey, England: Hazelton Publishing. pp. 204–209.
• Hodges, David (2001). A–Z of Grand Prix Cars. Ramsbury, Wiltshire: The Crowood Press. ISBN 1-86126-339-2.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)