Ligier JS5
The Ligier JS5 was a Formula 1 racing car , built in 1976 and used by the French motorsport team Équipe Ligier .
The JS5 was the first Ligier Formula 1 racing car. The monoposto was designed by Gérard Ducarouge , who had previously worked at Matra . Ducarouge opted for a conventional monocoque. The car had double triangular wishbones with internal spring-damper units at the front and upper and lower wishbones with external spring struts and double wishbones at the rear. The V12 engine came from Matra and developed 520 hp (382 kW).
With the body, however, Ligier broke new ground. The aerodynamicist Robert Choulet developed a vehicle with its curved lines, concave bow and an extremely high air scoop. This scoop also served the main sponsor of the Ligier team, the cigarette brand Gitanes , as an advertising space.
In 1976 Ligier only used one vehicle in the World Championship, which was driven by Jacques Laffite . The car made its racing debut at the Brazilian Grand Prix in Interlagos . Laffite was eliminated after problems with the circuit. The fast Frenchman scored his first points with fourth place in the third race of the season, the US West Grand Prix in Long Beach. In Belgium and Italy , Laffite drove the JS5 in third place. At the Austrian Grand Prix , Laffite, after even leading the race for a few laps, came second and thus achieved the best result for the JS5.
Overall, Ligier's first season with the JS5 in Formula 1 was quite successful and the team finished fifth in the constructors' championship with 20 points.
