#23 Ligier JS P217 – Gibson (LM P2)

Owners: Olivier Panis, Sarah and Simon Abadie
Team Principal: Olivier Panis
Race Engineer: Joffrey Guillemat
Location: Rouffiac-Tolosan (France)
Website: www.panisbarthezcompetition.com

2016 ELMS classification

8th, LM P2 Teams Championship (27.5 points, one pole)

7th, LM P3 Teams Championship (30.5 points)

2017 ELMS results

4 Hours of Silverstone: 9th, Berthon/Barthez/Buret (FRA/FRA/FRA), #23 Ligier JS P217 – Gibson

20th (9th in LM P3), Debard/Gachet/Bean (FRA/FRA/USA), #16 Ligier JS P3 – Nissan

4 Hours of Monza: 7th, Barthez/Buret (FRA/FRA), #23 Ligier JS P217 – Gibson

24th (11th in LM P3), Debard/Gachet/Bean (FRA/FRA/USA), #16 Ligier JS P3 – Nissan

Two world-class sports stars, racing driver Olivier Panis and footballer Fabien Barthez, joined forces to form Panis-Barthez Compétition. While Barthez, who has two appearances at the 24 Hours of Le Mans to his credit, takes the wheel, ex-Formula One and Le Mans (four appearances, 2008-2011) driver Panis remains in the wings as team manager. The aim of Panis-Barthez Compétition is to give a leg-up to young talent.

Panis-Barthez Compétition relies on Tech 1 Racing for vehicle operation and technical aspects. Simon and Sarah Abadie’s outfit has a remarkable record in launching careers in single-seaters. The late Jules Bianchi and F1 Red Bull Racing driver Daniel Ricciardo both started out with them. During the 2015 season, Panis’ son Aurélien competed in the Formula Renault 3.5 championship with Tech 1 Racing too.

In the 2016 European Le Mans Series, Panis-Barthez Compétition fielded a Ligier JS P2 - Nissan in the LMP2 class and a Ligier JS P3 in LMP3. With Barthez, Paul Loup Chatin and Timothée Buret at the wheel of the Ligier JS P2, the new outfit finished eighth in the Teams championship, the highlight being the pole position achieved at the Red Bull Ring (Austria). In LM P3, Eric Debard, Simon Gachet and Valentin Moineault were on the 4 Hours of Imola podium and finished in seventh place in the Teams championship standings. For the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Panis-Barthez Compétition placed its faith in its ELMS LMP2 line-up. The team put in a spirited performance in its first 24-hour race to claim the overall 12th place and eighth in LMP2.

There is little change for 2017. Panis-Barthez Compétition tried to enter a second Ligier JS P217 in the European Le Mans Series and at the 24 Hours of Le Mans but, finally, there is just the one for Nathanaël Berthon, Barthez and Buret. A Ligier JS P3 is again fielded in the LMP3 class, with Debard and Gachet partnered this year by young American, Theo Bean. Both cars finished ninth in their respective classes at the 4 Hours of Silverstone, before moving on to Monza for the second round. With Berthon competing in a Blancpain Endurance Series race at Silverstone, the team had planned to replace him with Matthieu Vaxivière until injury ruled him out. Panis-Barthez Compétition stuck with the two-driver line-up of Barthez and Buret in the Ligier JS P217, finishing seventh, while the #16 LM P3 placed 24th (11th in class).

At the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the LM P2 crew of Berthon, Barthez and Buret will have their hearts set on at least equalling last year’s performance. 

Photo: Pascal Saivet, Vision Sport Agency