Ligier JS17 F1 OW 1981

Specifications Ligier JS17 F1 OW 1981 blueprint

The Ligier JS17 was a French Formula One racing car, constructed in 1981 by Ligier Automobiles and used by the Ligier team during the 1981 season. It was the last of the traditional ground-effect F1 cars, designed to seek out the best possible downforce by channeling air under the car's floor. The JS17 was powered by a major engine change, as the company switched from Matra's V12 to a Ford Cosworth DFV, and was one of the first cars to use its newly constructed flat bottom to gain better airflow. To achieve this, the car's radiators were positioned closer together, and its sidepods designed with longer chisel-shaped airboxes. It also featured numerous drag-reducing measures, such as a high aerodynamic downforce, small inlet ducts, and low front nose. All these features enabled it to gain better grip and handling. In terms of its chassis, the JS17 used a monocoque construction runout from aluminum, with its wishbone suspension attached to a carbon-fiber composite sub-frame. It was also fitted with carbon-fiber brake disks, which allowed for quicker cooling of the system. At the wheel, the JS17 proved to be a fast, reliable machine; in its first season, it scored a hat trick of podium finishes, placing third, second, and third in Canada, France, and the United States, respectively. Despite this, it was outpaced by its competitors and struggled in qualifying, leading to its retirement from racing in the 1981 Grand Prix of Italy. The Ligier JS17 was undeniably a remarkable machine, with its superior aerodynamics, state-of-the-art chassis, and powerful engine. As the last of the ground-effect F1 cars, it will remain an embodiment of the golden era of Formula One, when advancement in technology had radically changed the face of grand prix racing.