Blue progress
The Ligier JS9 was a new racing car raced by Écurie Ligier during the 1978 Formula One season. It was designed by Gérard Ducarouge and Michel Beaujon, with Robert Choulet working on the aerodynamics. It continued to be powered by the Matra MS76 V12 engine, that the team used since 1976.
For the 1978 season, Ligier continued to run a single entry for Jacques Laffite, the team’s regular driver. The JS9 made its debut at the Monaco Grand Prix, seventh race of the season, but Laffite had to retire with gearbox problems. At the next race, the Spanish Grand Prix at Jarama, the French ace qualified tenth, but finished on the podium in third (picture above).
Jacques Laffite was a fine third again in Germany, this time from seventh on the grid. A fifth position in Austria followed by a fourth in Italy were two more good races for the team, and the amicable French driver finished sixth in the standings.