Ligier JS43

The Ligier JS43 was the car with which the Ligier team competed in the 1996 Formula One World Championship. It was driven by Frenchman Olivier Panis, who was in his third season with the team, and Brazilian Pedro Diniz, who moved from Forti.

Ligier JS43
CategoryFormula One
ConstructorLigier
Designer(s)Frank Dernie (Technical Director)
Loic Bigois (Head of Aerodynamics)
PredecessorJS41
SuccessorProst JS45
Technical specifications
Chassiscarbon-fibre and honeycomb composite structure
Suspension (front)pushrod
Suspension (rear)pushrod
EngineMugen-Honda MF301HA 3.0-litre V10 (72°)
TransmissionLigier six-speed transverse semi-automatic
Power690 hp @ 13,700 rpm[1]
FuelElf
TyresGoodyear
Competition history
Notable entrantsLigier Gauloises Blondes
Notable drivers9. Olivier Panis
10. Pedro Diniz
Debut1996 Australian Grand Prix
RacesWinsPodiumsPolesF.Laps
161100
Teams' Championships0
Constructors' Championships0
Drivers' Championships0

The JS43 was an evolution of 1995's relatively successful JS41, designed by Frank Dernie. However, he, team manager Tony Dowe and majority owner Tom Walkinshaw left the team after ownership problems with Ligier founder Guy Ligier. This paved the way for Alain Prost to buy the team for 1997.

Despite these losses, the JS43 performed respectably all season, with both chassis and engine the subject of steady development. Despite season-long complaints about the car's braking performance, Panis took his first and only Grand Prix victory at Monaco, in a race where only three cars finished. It was also Ligier's first win since the 1981 Canadian Grand Prix.

Panis also finished sixth in Brazil and fifth in Hungary, to place ninth in the Drivers' Championship with 13 points. Diniz finished sixth in Spain and Italy, earning two points which placed him 15th in the Drivers' Championship. The Brazilian was also fortunate to escape a serious fire in Argentina.

With a total of 15 points, Ligier placed sixth in the Constructors' Championship.

Complete Formula One results

(key) (results in bold indicate pole position)

Year Team Engine Tyres Drivers 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Points WCC
1996 Ligier Mugen Honda V10 G AUS BRA ARG EUR SMR MON ESP CAN FRA GBR GER HUN BEL ITA POR JPN 15 6th
Olivier Panis 7 6 8 Ret Ret 1 Ret Ret 7 Ret 7 5 Ret Ret 10 7
Pedro Diniz 10 8 Ret 10 7 Ret 6 Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret 6 Ret Ret

References
  1. "Engine Mugen Honda". www.statsf1.com. Retrieved 26 November 2020.


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