Category | Formula One | ||||||||
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Constructor | Ligier | ||||||||
Designer(s) |
Michel Tétu (Technical Director) Michel Beaujon (Chief Designer) |
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Predecessor | JS29 | ||||||||
Successor | JS33 | ||||||||
Technical specifications | |||||||||
Chassis | Carbon fibre and kevlar monocoque | ||||||||
Suspension (front) | Double wishbones | ||||||||
Suspension (rear) | Double wishbones | ||||||||
Axle track | Front: 1,790 mm (70 in) Rear: 1,662 mm (65.4 in) |
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Wheelbase | 2,865 mm (112.8 in) | ||||||||
Engine | Judd CV, 3,496 cc (213.3 cu in), V8, NA, mid-engine, longitudinally mounted | ||||||||
Transmission | Ligier 6-speed manual | ||||||||
Weight | 525 kg (1,157 lb) | ||||||||
Fuel | Valvoline | ||||||||
Tyres | Goodyear | ||||||||
Competition history | |||||||||
Notable entrants | Ligier Loto | ||||||||
Notable drivers | 25. ![]() 26. ![]() |
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Debut | 1988 Brazilian Grand Prix | ||||||||
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Constructors' Championships | 0 | ||||||||
Drivers' Championships | 0 |
The Ligier JS31 was a Formula One car designed by Michel Tétu and Michel Beaujon for the Ligier team for use in the 1988 Formula One season. It was powered by the new, normally aspirated, 3.5L Judd CV V8 engine and, like the rest of the F1 grid in 1988, ran on Goodyear tyres. Drivers for the team were French veteran René Arnoux in his 3rd season driving for team boss Guy Ligier, and Swede Stefan Johansson who had finished 5th in the World Championship with Ferrari in 1986 and 6th with McLaren in 1987.
The JS31 was the first non-turbo car produced by Ligier since the Cosworth DFV powered JS21 used in the 1983 season, and it proved to be very uncompetitive despite the best efforts of the team and its experienced drivers. The car's major failure was a lack of downforce with Johansson in particular reporting several times during a frustrating season that he had to drive the car as if on a wet track because it had so little grip and this was reflected in the car's results. Johansson, a frequent podium visitor in the previous three seasons, failed to qualify six times and never finished above 9th while seven time grand prix winner Arnoux failed to qualify twice (San Marino and France) and never finished a race higher than 10th. Neither driver qualified for the San Marino Grand Prix, the first time in team history that neither Ligier made the grid.