Top 5 Worst Performing Equipe Ligier drivers


Top 5 Worst Performing Equipe Ligier driver
By: Brian Cotnoir

          Automobile Racing has always been associated with the country of France since the very beginning.  The first Auto Race in the world was held if France, the FIA’s headquarters is located in Paris, and driver Alain Prost was not only the most successful French racecar driver, but also the winningest driver in Formula 1 History from 1987-2001, winning a Total of 51 Races (he is still presently 4th All-Time in Career Wins).  Today Renault F1 is the only French Constructor in Formula 1, but they went through short periods without competing in Formula 1, but from 1976-1996, there was another French Formula 1 team competing on the grid, challenging for top spots in the midfield and occasional wins, Equipe Ligier.                                                  
       Equipe Ligier stood out in their field with the beautifully painted Blue & White Livery’s and mostly ran with the racing #25 & 26.  They were easily recognizable on the track and at one point early in the team’s history they were competing for Wins and Constructors Championships.  However, 5 drivers I’m about to mention to you have scored a combined 1 championship point for the Team.  These are the Top 5 Worst Performing Equipe Ligier Drivers

5.)  Olivier Grouillard, 1 Season (1989), 1 Point Scored, 1 DSQ and 4 DNQ’s

Olivier Grouillad made his debut in F1 with the Ligier team in 1989.   The French driver only scored 1 point that season, when he finished 6th at his Home Grand Prix.  Grouillard was disqualified from that seasons San Marino Grand Prix after his team made an illegal repair to the car prior to a race restart.  He also failed to qualify for 4 other Grand Prix’s that season.


4.)  Piercarlo Ghinzani, 1 Season (1987), 0 Points Scored, Best finish 8th (2x)

Italian Driver Piercarlo Ghinzani also yielded lackluster results in his only season at Equipe Ligier.  His best finish was 8th twice, but he and his teammate, Rene Arnoux’s season were plagued by reliability issues.  Ghinzani was also excluded from the British Grand Prix that year for refueling his car on track during qualifying.


3.)  Jean-Pierre Jarier, 1 Season (1983), 0 Points Scored, Best Finish 7th (2x)

Former World Championship driver James Hunt said of French driver Jean Pierre-Jarier’s driving at the 1983 Austrian Grand Prix; “Jarier is really completely out of order, he really shouldn’t be allowed in Grand Prix Racing.  He’s got the mental age of 10…”  Those are some of the most famous words in F1 History.  Jarier ran only one full season with Ligier in 1983, but he had run a handful of single races for the ream in prior seasons.   Jarier would not compete in Formula 1 ever again after his one and only season with Equipe Ligier.  I think James Hunt was right.


2.)  Raul Bosel, 1 Season (1983), 0 Points Scored, 2 DNQ’s Best Finish 7th

Jarier’s Teamate for the 1983 Season was Brazillian driver Raul Bosel.  Like Jarier, Bosel’s best finish for the team was a 7th place (at the United States West Grand Prix) and also like his teammate that season, it was the last time he ever raced in Formula 1.


1.)  Stefan Johanson, 1 Season (1988), 0 Points Scored, 6 DNQ’s, Best Finish 9th (2X)

Stefan Johansson was had some moderate success in the Formula 1 in the mid 1980’’s driving for top teams like Ferrari and McLaren, scoring a number of podium finishes for both teams.  In fact in his only season at McLaren, Johansson was teamed up with F1 World Champion, Alain Prost.  However, Johansson would be replaced at McLaren by a Brazilian driver by the name of Ayrton Senna, and signed on to drive with Ligier for the 1988 season.  Both Johansson and his teammate Rene Arnoux were plagued with reliability issues at Ligier that season, and Johansson actually failed to qualify for 6 races that season.  Neither driver scored any points that season.  Johansson only ran one full-time season after leaving Ligier, but could only manage to score just one more podium finish the rest of his career.  


Top 5 Worst Performing Renault F1 Teams


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