At the end of last season, ESM announced that they would be doing the full FIA WEC season with two HPD ARX-04b Hondas. However, the car was not authorised and so the team purchased the Ligiers. The order was placed rather late and the cars were not ready for the 6 Hours of Silverstone, which is why ESM ran their “old” HPD ARX-O3bs for the last time.
On Monday, ESM took delivery of the two brand new Ligier JS P2 at Magny-Cours in France to conduct its first official shakedown and laps with the Ligiers on the famous circuit. Both cars are powered by Honda HR28TT V6 engines.

Team principal Scott Sharp took the wheel for the first few laps: “It was cold and rainy in Magny-Cours today but that didn’t dampen Tequila Patrón ESM’s shakedown of our new Ligiers one bit! The entire team is impressed with the build and finish on the Ligier. All of the drivers remarked how confidence-building, even in the wet, the car was! It’s a very refined and balanced piece. We can’t wait to take it to Spa this weekend!"

All the team drivers were at Magny-Cours to try out their new toy! Scott Sharp, David Heinemeier Hansson and Ryan Dalziel will be in the n°30 while Johannes van Overbeek, Jon Fogarty and Ed Brown will be sharing the n°31. “The car was really good. All drivers had positive things to say today at Magny-Cours,” said Brown, president and chief executive officer, Patrón Spirits International. “We drove in the rain all day so we really couldn’t do a whole lot with speed, but if a car is that good in the wet it will be good in dry conditions. We’re excited to see what the future holds with the Ligier, Honda and Tequila Patrón ESM.”

David Bristol / ACO                      Translated by Emma Paulay

(Quotes from team press release)

PHOTO: The two Ligier JS P2 by ESM will take part in the second round of the FIA WEC, the 6 hours of Spa-Francorchamps and the Le Mans 24 Hours.