Ligier Automotive and Le Mans Endurance Management have confirmed the renewal of their partnership which will see the Ligier European Series continue as part of the European le mans Series support package for a further three seasons through to the end of 2028.
Launched in 2020, the series has seen significant growth after surviving the initial difficulties of a Serioe launched in the midst of a global pandemic!
The Series has boasted a record 26-car grid in 2025 with a growing reputation for providing a platform for teams and drivers onwards into endurance racing.
Held as a support series to the Michelin Le Mans Cup (LMC) and the European Le Mans Series (ELMS), the Ligier European Series is one of very few that boasts a round on the full Circuit de Le Sarthe, at Le Mans, recent seasons have seen the Series support the Le mans test Day with a sprint round between test sessions.
In 2025, no fewer than eight former Ligier European Series drivers competed in Road to Le Mans, the Le Mans race week rounds of the Michelin Le Mans Cup, with two of them finishing on the podium—a concrete example of the championship’s effectiveness.
The prize system established by Ligier Automotive has further strengthened this dynamic. The JS P4 champion(s) receive €150,000 to compete the following season in the Michelin Le Mans Cup behind the wheel of the new Ligier JS P325. The JS2 R champion(s) are awarded €100,000 to continue their development in the JS P4 category within the Ligier European Series.
The most striking example is Gillian Henrion, who claimed the JS P4 title in 2022. Thanks to the prize fund, he moved up to the Michelin Le Mans Cup in 2023 with a Ligier JS P320 and won the LMP3 championship. In 2024, he continued his rise in the European Le Mans Series and was selected for the WEC Rookie Test in Bahrain. In 2025, he competes in a dual program in both ELMS and the Michelin Le Mans Cup, still with a Ligier JS P325.
Jacques Nicolet, President of Ligier Automotive:
“The Ligier European Series was born from a shared vision with Le Mans Endurance Management: to offer an accessible yet ambitious platform to develop the future stars of endurance racing. Five years later, the results speak for themselves. This renewed partnership reflects our ongoing commitment to building a strong development pathway closely connected to ACO-sanctioned series and to supporting teams and drivers every step of the way.”
Frédéric Lequien, CEO of Le Mans Endurance Management:
“The Ligier European Series has established itself as a reference championship for drivers starting out in endurance racing. Its calendar, level of competition, professional organization, and clear pathway to higher-level series make it truly unique. We are delighted to extend our collaboration with Ligier Automotive for three more seasons.”
