The composition of the driver line-ups of the Panis-Barthez Compétition team, created by Olivier Panis, former F1 and endurance driver, and Fabien Barthez, Football World Champion in 1998 with France, will depend on the entry of two Ligier JS P217s, the prototype developed by Onroak Automotive to answer to the new technical LM P2 regulations that went into effect January 1, 2017.

Last year, the team helmed by Olivier Panis finished eighth in the LM P2 class at the 24 Hours of Le Mans with a Ligier JS P2, held the same spot by the end of the ELMS season, led by Paul-Loup Chatin, chosen to participate in the Rookie Test at Bahrain at the end of the World Endurance Championship (WEC) season, Fabien Barthez and young driver Timothé Buret. Barthez and Buret have already been announced to take part in the 2017 program.

Olivier Panis, team principal: "We are in the process of finalizing our 2017 program and are doing everything to bring together the financial and competitive elements to allow us to have two LM P2 cars on the track in the ELMS and at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Fabien is a crucial member of the team and his decision to stay behind the wheel was immediate, an undeniable asset for the driver line-ups due to his consistency and focus on the track as well as his way of sharing competitive values to the younger drivers. Regarding Timothé, a rookie last season, he showed his determination to learn, his capacity for progress and we all hope to move forward together. By continuing this season, he will be able to benefit from what he has learned as he takes on the circuit with more information at hand."

The 2017 season of the ELMS will kick off with the 4 Hours of Silverstone on April 15th.

Quotation from team press release.

Photo: Timothé Buret (at left) with Panis-Barthez Compétition team principal Olivier Panis at the 2016 24 Hours of Le Mans.