Ligier JS33

Ligier JS33
Ligier JS33B
Category Formula One
Constructor Ligier
Predecessor JS31
Successor JS35
Technical specifications[1]
Chassis Carbon Fibre Monocoque
Wheelbase 2,850 mm (112 in)
Engine Cosworth DFR 3,493 cc (213.2 cu in), V8, NA, mid-engine, longitudinally mounted
Weight 505kg
Fuel Antar, Elf
Tyres Goodyear
Competition history
Notable entrants Equipe Ligier Gitanes
Notable drivers 25. France René Arnoux (1989)
25. Italy Nicola Larini (1990)
26. France Olivier Grouillard (1989)
26. France Philippe Alliot (1990)
Debut 1989 Brazilian Grand Prix
RacesWinsPolesF.Laps
30000

The Ligier JS33 was a Formula One car used by the Ligier team during the 1989 Formula One season. Its best finish in a race was fifth, at the 1989 Canadian Grand Prix. The JS33 was updated to a 'B' spec for use in the following season, but failed to score any points for the team.

Development

For the 1989 season, Ligier switched from the Judd engines of the previous season to Cosworth DFR. The JS33 chassis was designed by Michel Beaujon and finished off by Richard Divila.[2] In appearance, it looked similar to the March 881 and even used the same gearbox (purchased from March).[3]

The chassis was updated to a 'B' spec for the 1990 Formula One season. The March gearbox from the previous season was discarded in favour of an X-trac unit,[4] and the front suspension was revised. Weight was also shaved from the car.[2]

Race history

1989 season

Ligier's lead driver from the previous season, René Arnoux, remained with the team and alongside him was new recruit Olivier Grouillard. Arnoux, in his final season in Formula One, did not start the year well, failing to qualify for the first two races of the year before making the grid in the Monaco Grand Prix in 21st spot. He went on to finish the race in 12th. He continued to struggle during qualifying, only making the grid on eight more occasions. He finished in the points once, with a fifth-place finish at the Canadian Grand Prix.[1]

Grouillard was usually the faster of the two Ligier drivers. His best qualification performance was at the San Marino Grand Prix where he was 10th on the grid. He was disqualified from the race after his team worked his car prior to a restart of the race. His best finish of the year was 6th, at the French Grand Prix. Grouillard left the team at the end of the season. Ligier finished 13th equal in the World Constructors' Championship with three points, an improvement on the previous year.[1]

1990 season

Nicola Larini and Philippe Alliot were Ligier's drivers for the 1990 Formula One season. Larini was a reliable driver for the team, finishing all but three of his races. He did not score any points and his best finishes were back to back seventh places at the Spanish and Japanese Grand Prix. Alliot had some unfortunate races; he was excluded from the opening race in the United States when a mechanic worked on his car outside of the pits and he was disqualified from the German Grand Prix when he received a push start on the first lap of the race.[5]

With more cars than spaces available on the grid, some teams had to enter pre-qualifying in order to be allowed to participate in qualifying proper. With neither driver scoring points by the midpoint of the season, Ligier was relegated to having to pre-qualify from the German Grand Prix. However, this only lasted for a few races before one of the seeded teams, Onyx, withdrew from Formula One, allowing Ligier, as the best placed unseeded team, direct entry into qualifying.[6]

Complete Formula One results

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

Year Team Chassis Engine Tyres Drivers 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Points WCC
1989 Ligier Loto JS33 Ford V8 G BRA SMR MON MEX USA CAN FRA GBR GER HUN BEL ITA POR ESP JPN AUS 3 13th
René Arnoux DNQ DNQ 12 14 DNQ 5 Ret DNQ 11 DNQ Ret 9 13 DNQ DNQ Ret
Olivier Grouillard 9 DSQ Ret 8 DNQ DNQ 6 7 Ret DNQ 13 Ret DNQ Ret Ret Ret
1990 Equipe Ligier Gitanes JS33B USA BRA SMR MON CAN MEX FRA GBR GER HUN BEL ITA POR ESP JPN AUS 0 NC
Nicola Larini Ret 11 10 Ret Ret 16 14 10 10 11 14 11 10 7 7 10
Philippe Alliot EX 12 9 Ret Ret 18 9 13 DSQ 14 DNQ 13 Ret Ret 10 11

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 Stats F1. "Ligier JS33". Retrieved 23 March 2013.
  2. 1 2 Hodges, 2001, p. 126
  3. ↑ Henry, 1989, p. 60
  4. ↑ Henry, 1990, p. 58
  5. ↑ Stats F1. "Ligier JS33B". Retrieved 23 March 2013.
  6. ↑ Hamilton, 1990, p. 197

References

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