This weekend, 16 Ligier JS P3s hit the track for Petit Le Mans, the last IMSA Prototype Challenge race of the season held at Road Atlanta. The 2019 F3 Americas Championship Powered by Honda title winner Dakota Dickerson will trade again his Ligier JS F3 to pilot one of those 16 chassis. Driving the No. 54 MLT Motorsports Ligier JS P3, Dickerson will join Dylan Murry at the wheel in preparation of the 2020 IMSA Prototype Challenge as part of his F3 Americas championship prize package from Ligier Automotive North America.

After securing the 2018 F4 U.S. title in a Ligier JS F4, Dickerson moved to the Ligier JS F3. With a total of five wins, six additional podium visits and four top-10 finishes, Dickerson was crowned F3 Americas Champion. He was awarded a comprehensive package that included a full ride in a Ligier JS P3 in 2020 with MLT Motorsports and will be invited to participate in several of Ligier Automotive North America's new chassis testing and development programs.



"The past few months have been filled with lots of success and learning, courtesy of the support from Ligier," Dickerson said. "Running in the F3 Americas Championship Powered by Honda, we were able to lock up the championship at Road America, prior to the season finale at Sebring. The finale produced some fantastic racing and we wrapped up the season securing two more podium finishes. The highlight of the weekend, however, came when Max Crawford and Ligier Automotive announced that we will be competing full time next year in one of their Ligier JS P3 in the IMSA Prototype Challenge categories. I can't thank them enough for the opportunity."



Dickerson continued. "I'm pleased that we are also getting the chance to get 2020 started a bit early by competing in this year's season finale at Petit Le Mans. I had the chance to test with MLT Motorsports this past weekend at Road Atlanta and it is staggering how fast the Ligier JS P3 car is around the track. There are huge similarities between the Ligier JS F3 and JS P3 which made the transition into the car seemless. The Ligier JS F3 has created a great foundation for me to continue moving up through the ranks, and I'm looking forward to continue working with Ligier."



After winning the 2018 F4 U.S. Championship, Ligier gave Dickerson the opportunity to make his debut in sports prototype at the Michelin IMSA SportsCar Encore in Sebring driving the No. 2 ANSA Motorsports Ligier JS P3. Since then, he raced twice this year in the No. 54 MLT Motorsports Ligier JS P3 and clinched one victory at Mid-Ohio Sports Car race and a top-4 finish at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park.



"We are looking forward to Petit Le Mans," concluded Max Crawford, CEO of Ligier Automotive North America. "This final event promises non-stop racing action with the Ligier JS P3 still in contention for the LM P3 title. We won the title last year and are hoping for the same results this year. It's also great to see Dakota back behind the wheel of MLT Motorsports Ligier JS P3. He has dipped his toes in IMSA Prototype Challenge program and has been extremely successful. The experience he gained through the progression from the F4 and F3 SCCA Pro Series program has been proven to be very valuable."



Ligier sealed victory at Petit Le Mans two years in a row, in 2016 with the Meyer Shank Racing Ligier JS P2 and in 2017 with the Tequila Patron ESM Ligier Nissan DPi. Last year, it clinched the pole position with the Tequila Patron ESM Ligier Nissan DPi.



SCHEDULE

Thursday October 10:

2:15 pm – 12:20 pm: Qualifying Prototype Challenge

Friday October 11:

8:00 am – 9:45 am: Race Prototype Challenge

4:45 pm – 5:00 pm: Qualifying LM P2/ DPi WeatherTech Championship

Saturday October 12:

12:05 pm – 10:05 pm: Race Petit Le Mans WeatherTech Championship