The Ligier European Series, the gateway to endurance racing, enters season six in 2025. Registration opens on 2 December 2024 and closes on 3 March 2025. Organised by Le Mans Endurance Management (LMEM), the series is uniquely positioned as the first step in the Automobile Club de l’Ouest’s (ACO) endurance pyramid, leading ultimately to the FIA World Endurance Championship.
A series in perpetual expansion
In 2024, the series welcomed drivers and teams representing 22 nationalities, from Japan to Uruguay, with an average of approximately 20 cars per round. New teams included Iron Lynx, Iron Dames and Nielsen Racing, all familiar names from major ACO championships, and ASM Motorsport, who made their endurance debut in this format.
The Ligier European Series updates its regulations for 2025
The penalty for Silver-rated drivers during pit stops has been removed. This change aims to make the series more accessible to Silver drivers, who are increasingly keen to compete in the championship, the first step on the endurance racing ladder. However, the penalty designed to maintain fair competition between solo drivers and two-driver line-ups will remain in place.
Unique prizes
Since 2022, the Ligier European Series has offered an unrivalled prize scheme in motorsport, with exceptional financial packages enabling its champions to continue their development in endurance racing:
- 150 000 € for the JS P4 category champion(s) to progress to the Michelin Le Mans Cup (MLMC) the following season in LMP3 behind the wheel of a Ligier JS P325,
- 100 000 € for the JS2 R champion(s) to move up to the JS P4 category the following season in the Ligier European Series.
A talent pipeline of all profiles
The Ligier European Series is a stepping stone for drivers from all backgrounds, whether young hopefuls or enthusiastic amateurs. It allows drivers to discover the fundamentals of endurance racing, learn the ACO championship rules and make their mark on prestigious circuits shared with the MLMC and the European Le Mans Series (ELMS).
Gillian Henrion, the 2022 JS P4 champion with Team Virage, has worked through the ranks thanks to the series’ prize package. In 2023, he won the Michelin Le Mans Cup in LMP3 with a Ligier JS P320 before finishing runner-up in LMP3 in the ELMS in 2024 and being selected for the FIA WEC Rookie Test.
But he is not the only one to have made his mark: other drivers who debuted in the series now compete in the highest echelons of endurance championships. Sébastien Baud, the first JS2 R champion in 2020, now competes in the WEC in a Corvette. Cédric Oltramare, after two seasons in the JS2 R in 2021 and 2022, finished in the top 5 of the ELMS in the LMP3 category in 2024. Bernardo Pinheiro, runner-up in the JS P4 in 2023, finished with Team Virage runner-up in the ELMS LMP3 class in 2024.
Bronze drivers also find the Ligier European Series an ideal platform to develop before moving up to the higher categories. Julien Lemoine, JS2 R champion in 2023 with ANS Motorsport, is a perfect example. After making his motorsport debut in the series, he completed his first season in the MLMC in 2024, again with ANS Motorsport and at the commands of a Ligier JS P320.
This ability to develop drivers, whether they are young talents or amateurs looking for added experience, is one of the essential strengths of the Ligier European Series, which has established itself as a genuine career accelerator on the way to the heights of endurance racing.
An attractive format and an exceptional calendar for 2025
The series will retain its condensed two-day Friday and Saturday format with two 40-minute free practice sessions, two 15-minute qualifying sessions and two one-hour races*.
The Ligier European Series will visit some of Europe’s finest circuits, with the highlight being the Le Mans Heat on the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans circuit and, for the first time in 2025, Silverstone in England. The series kicks off in Barcelona (4-5 April) before moving on to Le Castellet (2-3 May) and Le Mans (8 June). After the summer break, the series will resume at Spa-Francorchamps (22-23 August) before heading to Silverstone (12-13 September). The season finale will be at Portimão (16-17 October), with an unforgettable trophy ceremony alongside the ELMS and MLMC.
The Ligier European Series continues to strengthen its appeal, offering increasing media exposure thanks to its live streaming and the aura of its sister series. Interested drivers and teams can contact LMEM Series Coordinator Maxime Gaudin: m.gaudin@europeanlemansseries.com
For more information about the series, download the 2025 season brochure or visit the website www.ligiereuropeanseries.com
*Except for the Le Mans Heat, which takes place on Test Day, and the season finale at Portimão, held on Thursday and Friday.
