Ligier Nissan DPi

On 21 September 2016, it was announced by Scott Sharp, the team owner of Tequila Patrón ESM, that the team would be returning to the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship full time for 2017, and departing the FIA World Endurance Championship. Simultaneously, it was announced that the team would be renewing its agreement with OAK Racing, and Onroak Automotive, and signing a new multi-year partnership with Nissan Nismo, who would supply the team the VR38DETT 3.8L V6 engine used in the Nissan GT-R GT3.{{Cite web|url=https://us.motorsport.com/imsa/news/esm-confirms-full-time-imsa-return-with-nissan-dpi-partnership-828634/2998170/?filters%5Bdriver%5D%5B0%5D=14129&nrt=207|title=ESM confirms full-time IMSA return with Nissan DPi partnership|website=us.motorsport.com|language=en|access-date=2019-08-05}} It had been earlier rumored that the team would be running the VRX30A that had been run in the ill-fated Nissan GT-R LM Nismo, which was later refuted by the announcement.{{Cite web|url=http://www.dailysportscar.com/2016/09/16/extreme-speed-motorsport-closing-in-on-imsa-dpi-programme.html|title=Extreme Speed Motorsport Closing In On IMSA DPi Programme – dailysportscar.com|website=www.dailysportscar.com|access-date=2019-08-05}} The programme would be a non-works supported, customer effort, and it was later revealed that ESM had signed an exclusivity agreement with Nissan for 2 years.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thecheckeredflag.co.uk/2018/08/nissan-onroak-dpi-exclusivity-deal-with-esm-to-end-at-end-of-2018/|title=Nissan Onroak DPi Exclusivity Deal with ESM to End at end of 2018|last=Hensby|first=Paul|date=2018-08-11|website=The Checkered Flag|language=en-GB|access-date=2019-08-05}} The car had its unveiling and shakedown at the Sebring International Raceway in Florida, on 22 December 2016.{{Cite web|url=https://au.motorsport.com/imsa/news/nissans-ligier-based-dpi-breaks-cover-860875/3009281/?filters%5Bdriver%5D%5B0%5D=17069&nrt=207|title=Nissan's Ligier-based DPi breaks cover|website=au.motorsport.com|language=en|access-date=2019-08-05}} Between the JS P217 and the DPi, a number of differences were noted, with a large front panel covering the nose area, alongside revised side panels.{{Cite web|url=https://www.racecar-engineering.com/cars/ligier-js-p217/|title=Ligier JS P217|last=Sam|website=Racecar Engineering|language=en-US|access-date=2019-08-05}} The final design of the car was also noted to be different from the initial proposals to the Championship governing body, the International Motor Sports Association.{{Cite web|url=https://racer.com/2017/01/26/imsa-2017-prototype-tech-profile-nissan-onroak-dpi/|title=IMSA 2017 Prototype Tech Profile: Nissan Onroak|date=2017-01-26|website=RACER|language=en|access-date=2019-08-05}}

The car was noted to be overweight, compared to its base sibling, the Ligier JS P217, owing to the Nissan VR38DETT engine being over 50 kilograms heavier than the Gibson Technology powerplant utilized in the JS P217.{{Cite web|url=https://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/dumas-nissan-onroak-dpi-60-percent-different-from-ligier-js-p217/|title=Dumas: Nissan Onroak DPi "60 Percent Different" from Ligier LMP2 – Sportscar365|last=Dagys|first=John|website=sportscar365.com|language=en-US|access-date=2020-01-06}}

The 2017 season began at the 2017 Rolex 24 At Daytona, with both cars showing strong pace, with the #2 car even leading the race during the rainy night portion of the race, but a number of electrical problems, a penalty as well as a number of spins in the wet saw the team finish just outside the podium, in 4th.{{Cite web|url=https://www.topspeed.com/cars/car-news/2017-rolex-24-at-daytonarace-report-ar175777.html|title=2017 Rolex 24 Race Report|last=Fira|first=Michael|date=|website=TopSpeed.com|access-date=2019-09-01}}{{dead link|date=January 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} At the 2017 BUBBA Burger Sports Car Grand Prix, held at the Long Beach Street Circuit, the team would score its first podium with the car, with the #2 car scoring a 2nd-place finish, and the fastest lap of the race.{{Cite web|url=https://www.endurance-info.com/en/tequila-patron-esm-earns-first-podium-of-the-season-at-long-beach/|title=Tequila Patron ESM Earns First Podium of the Season at Long Beach {{!}} Endurance info English spoken|last=|language=en-US|access-date=2019-09-01}} At the 6 Hours of Watkins Glen, Pipo Derani scored the first Pole position for the car.{{Cite web|url=http://www.dailysportscar.com/2017/07/01/derani-hands-esm-watkins-glen-pole.html|title=Derani Hands ESM Watkins Glen Pole – dailysportscar.com|website=www.dailysportscar.com|access-date=2019-09-01}} The #22 car would secure the first win for the car at the Continental Tire Road Race Showcase, held at Road America, with the team scoring a 1-3 finish and breaking the 7-race win streak for the Cadillac DPi-V.R.{{Cite web|url=https://detroitgp.com/news/Nissan-Scores-Breakthrough-DPi-Win-with-Tequila-Patron-ESM-at-Road-America/67140|title=Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear, May 31 - June 2, 2019, Detroit, MI - News|website=detroitgp.com|access-date=2019-09-01}}{{Cite web|url=https://autoweek.com/article/imsa/nissan-scores-breakthrough-imsa-dpi-win-road-america|title=Nissan scores breakthrough IMSA DPi win at Road America|date=2017-08-06|website=Autoweek|language=en|access-date=2019-09-01}} This first win for the car came following a change in the car's electronics from Cosworth to Motec, which had been made in an attempt to increase the reliability of the car.{{Cite web|url=http://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/nissan-onroak-dpi-debuts-new-electronics-package/|title=Nissan Onroak DPi Debuts New Electronics Package – Sportscar365|last=Dagys|first=John|website=sportscar365.com|language=en-US|access-date=2020-01-18}} Later, at the season ending Petit Le Mans, the #2 car would benefit from late penalties for the sister #22 car, and the #5 Mustang Sampling Racing cars to win.{{Cite web|url=https://www.frontstretch.com/2017/10/08/tequila-patron-esm-wins-motul-petit-le-mans-afthanks-to-penalties/|title=Tequila Patron ESM Wins Motul Petit Le Mans Thanks to Penalties|date=2017-10-08|website=Frontstretch|language=en|access-date=2019-09-01}}

File:Nissan Onroak DPi -22 12 Hours of Sebring.jpg Nissan-Onroak DPi en route to victory at the 2018 12 Hours of Sebring]]The 2018 season started with a double retirement at the 2018 Rolex 24 at Daytona, in spite of the #22 car leading the race for several laps.{{Cite web|url=http://www.dailysportscar.com/2018/02/01/wrapping-up-the-2018-rolex-24-hours-at-daytona.html|title=Wrapping Up The 2018 Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona – dailysportscar.com|website=www.dailysportscar.com|access-date=2019-08-25}} At the following race, the 12 Hours of Sebring, the team would bounce back, scoring a win, following a strong late-race drive by Pipo Derani.{{Cite web|url=https://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/tequila-patron-esm-takes-sebring-win/|title=Tequila Patron ESM Takes Sebring Win – Sportscar365|last=Dagys|first=John|website=sportscar365.com|language=en-US|access-date=2019-08-25}} Following the disastrous weekend during the 6 Hours of Watkins Glen, where the team had used 3 engines, and suffered 2 engine failures, the team scaled down its entry to a single car at the Canadian Tire Motorsport Park.{{Cite web|url=https://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/esm-scales-back-to-single-nissan-dpi-for-ctmp/|title=ESM Scales Back to Single Nissan DPi for CTMP – Sportscar365|last=Dagys|first=John|website=sportscar365.com|language=en-US|access-date=2019-08-25}} Even after the announcement by Patrón that they were to end its involvement in motorsports, Extreme Speed Motorsports had still aimed and intended to continue its participation in the 2019 season with the car.{{Cite web|url=https://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/esm-aiming-to-continue-in-prototype-with-nissan-dpi/|title=ESM Aiming to Continue with Nissan DPi Despite Patron Exit – Sportscar365|last=Dagys|first=John|website=sportscar365.com|language=en-US|access-date=2019-08-25}} The team later announced it was to relinquish its exclusivity deal with Onroak Automotive, making the car available for purchase with other teams through Onroak.{{Cite web|url=https://racer.com/2018/08/10/esm-to-relinquish-nissan-onroak-dpi-exclusivity-for-2019/|title=ESM to relinquish Nissan Onroak DPi exclusivity for 2019|date=2018-08-10|website=RACER|language=en|access-date=2019-08-25}} At the America's Tire 250, held at the WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, the car would score its 4th and final win under ESM,{{Cite web|url=https://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/derani-van-overbeek-win-wild-battle-at-laguna/|title=Derani, Van Overbeek Win Wild Race at Laguna Seca – Sportscar365|last=Dagys|first=John|website=sportscar365.com|language=en-US|access-date=2019-09-01}} and while Derani would score a pole for his final race with the team at the 2018 Petit Le Mans, the team was unable to repeat its win in the previous edition of the race, with the #22 finishing in 6th, while the #2 car would finish 11th.{{Cite web|url=https://ligierautomotive.com/en/news/petit-le-mans-2018-pole-position-and-performance-without-reward-for-the-2-and-22-onroak-nissan-dpi-of-tequila-patron-esm/|title=Petit Le Mans 2018: Pole position and performance without reward for the #2 and #22 Onroak-Nissan DPi of Tequila Patron ESM|date=2018-10-15|website=Ligier Automotive|language=en-US|access-date=2019-09-01}} Following the end of the season, ESM would sell both cars to CORE Autosport, before closing its doors.

Due to the withdrawal of title sponsor Patrón Spirits, ESM was forced to shut its doors in November 2018.{{Cite web|url=https://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/esm-shutters-operations/|title=ESM Shutters Operations – Sportscar365|last=Dagys|first=John|website=sportscar365.com|language=en-US|access-date=2019-08-05}} Subsequently, CORE Autosport announced it would run one car, having acquired both ESM chassis.{{Cite web|url=https://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/core-switches-to-nissan-dpi-for-2019/|title=CORE Switches to Nissan DPi for 2019 – Sportscar365|last=Dagys|first=John|website=sportscar365.com|language=en-US|access-date=2019-08-05}} On 23 August 2019, it was announced by CORE Autosport, that due to the retirement of team owner/driver Jon Bennett, the team would be ceasing its Daytona Prototype International programme, following the season ending 2019 Petit Le Mans, and solely shift its focus on the Porsche factory GT Le Mans Programme.{{Cite web|url=https://sportscar365.com/imsa/iwsc/core-nissan-dpi-program-closure-confirmed/|title=Bennett Announces Retirement; CORE DPi Program to End – Sportscar365|last=Lloyd|first=Daniel|website=sportscar365.com|language=en-US|access-date=2019-08-25}} It has also been said that the discontinuation of the programme at CORE Autosport would likely mean an end to racing for the car, as it was known that Nissan had previously shown little interest in supporting the effort.{{Cite web|url=https://www.motorsport.com/imsa/news/core-autosport-quits-dpi-bennett/4516844/|title=CORE autosport to bow out of DPi as Bennett retires|website=www.motorsport.com|language=en|access-date=2019-08-25}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.dailysportscar.com/2019/12/27/2019-goodbyes-ligier-nismo-dpi.html|title=2019 Goodbyes: Ligier NISMO DPi – dailysportscar.com|website=www.dailysportscar.com|access-date=2020-01-18}}

(key) Races in bold indicates pole position. Races in italics indicates fastest lap. (key) Races in bold indicates pole position. Races in italics indicates fastest lap.

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• [https://web.archive.org/web/20160406094931/http://www.onroak.com/ Onroak Automotive]

{{Ligier}}{{Nissan Sportscar Racers}}{{IMSA cars 2017}}{{IMSA cars 2018}}{{IMSA cars 2019}}

Category:Ligier racing cars

Category:Sports prototypes