LMU Ligier JS P325 LMP3 Guide & Setups

For upcoming drivers who aspire to race in international series like the World Endurance Championship and compete in classic races like the 24 Hours of Le Mans, there is an extensive sports car racing ladder to navigate. The LMGT3 class provides the ideal entry to international sports car racing, which allows some to move up to LMP2. 

For those who lack prototype experience though, the LMP3 class provides the ideal base.

Le Mans Ultimate has now unleashed the class into the titles’ vehicle roster, alongside the first part of the 2025 European Le Mans Series DLC. While all three LMP3 cars competing in the ELMS will eventually come to the sim, the Ligier JS P325 is the first.

This Coach Dave Academy guide will pour through everything you need to know about this baby prototype, and with your Delta subscription, you’ll have access to the Ligier JS P325 and all of our Le Mans Ultimate setups.   

The Ligier JS P325 Is The Go-To LMP3 Racer For Most Teams

Ligier has been involved in LMP3 racing since the category first debuted in 2016, the French constructor having developed its JSP chassis across all three generations seen so far. The third-generation LMP3 ruleset made its bow for the 2025 motorsport season, with the new cars competing in the ELMS, Michelin Le Mans Cup, and the Road To Le Mans fixtures.

The cars are mostly the same as the second-gen models, with the primary difference being an all-new engine. Gone were the naturally aspirated 5.6-litre Nissan V8s of the old cars, and in are smaller twin-turbocharged Toyota V6s.

Thanks to forced induction, the Toyota powerplant produces more grunt than the old unit. As a result, the different chassis constructors had to make significant cooling changes to ensure the engines remained cool during battle. Ligier’s new LMP3 racer is known as the JS P325.  

The JS P325 has become the dominant vehicle within the series it races in, with eight of the ten LMP3 entries in the ELMS being Ligiers.

In the Le Mans Cup, 33 of the 45 LMP3 combatants are made up of JS P325s. As a result, the Ligier has won every ELMS LMP3 contest so far held in 2025, as well as four of the six Le Mans Cup outings, with the other two taken by the Duqueine D09.  

• The Ligier JS P325 proves a significant challenge for drivers stepping up from LMGT3 vehicles in particular, so why not check out an onboard lap of the car flying around the Silverstone GP circuit in the hands of one of Coach Dave Academy’s pro drivers to see how it’s done? 

Car Specifications & Key Features

The LMP3 class rules stipulate that while the chassis and aero packages of the cars involved can be different from one another, the 470 hp 3.5-litre Toyota engine and six-speed sequential gearbox must be identical between all entries.

The engine is placed in the middle of the chassis to give it a balanced weight distribution. Like the rest of the ACO sports car racing ladder, the Ligier JS P325 sends its power to the rear wheels. 

LMU’s developers painstakingly recreated the JS P325 to a fine degree so that it perfectly replicates the real-life vehicle.  

• This includes the bodywork and aerodynamic package of the JS P325, which is different from that of its LMP3 rivals
• The Ligier’s bespoke cockpit was also built from the ground up to ensure it’s as immersive and realistic as possible

If you’re new to LMU and want to make sure your game is set up correctly, refer to Coach Dave Academy’s Ultimate Starter Guide to Le Mans Ultimate. 

Need Some Setups For Your JS P325?

Handling & Performance on Track

As its class designation suggests, the Ligier JS P325 sits between the LMGT3 and LMP2 categories when it comes to lap speed. It doesn’t have as much grunt or downforce as the Oreca LMP2 machine that makes up the ELMS LMP2 class, but it has more downforce than the collection of LMGT3 vehicles that compete in the GT class.

The JS P325 doesn’t have as much power as the GT3 contingent, but its lower weight ensures it’s a little quicker on the straights.   

The Ligier JS P325 feels like a GTE car on steroids, with the extra downforce making it quicker through medium and high-speed corners. It retains a servicable amount of mechanical grip though, making it feel more capable through slow-speed bends than LMP2 and Hypercars. 

The JS P325’s strongest element is its medium and high-speed performance, with its aero package affording a playful but stable balance. The car offers good rotation, and you can play with the throttle to change to attitude of the car mid-corner without upsetting the balance too much.

This is useful if you make an error, though doing this too often will cost you time. These elements of the track are where you’ll gain the most time over LMGT3 vehicles. 

Overall, though, the JS P325 is a challenging car to drive, with the car still lacking overall grip at lower speeds. The rear end is particularly difficult, as it likes to slide out under braking and under acceleration. When it snaps, it tends to go aggressively, making it difficult to prevent a spin. 

Tips and Tricks for Driving the Ligier JS P325 LMP3

• Trailbraking towards the apex will help to mitigate the rear end losing grip, though be careful as you come off the brakes as you approach the apex, as if you do so too aggressively, the rear can snap
• On corner exit, careful throttle application is crucial to prevent the rears from spinning up
• Using higher TC settings (6 and up) is suggested if you’re struggling with getting the power down on corner exit
• Aside from generally lacking rear grip at lower speeds, the more aggressive power delivery of the turbocharged engine also has a part to play in this characteristic
• Getting on the power too early can also cause the vehicle to understeer on corner exit, so timing it right is crucial to prevent time loss
• The Ligier JS P325 doesn’t have ABS, so you’ll need to make sure you brake in a straight line to maximize its stopping potential and lower your laptimes
• Learn to brake later than you do in an LMGT3, as the extra downforce and reduced weight make the JS P325 much stronger in this regard

Final Verdict: Is the Ligier JS P325 the Right Choice for You?

For drivers looking to step up from the LMGT3 class to prototype racing, but are concerned the LMP2 represents too big a climb, they will find the LMP3 category an ideal place to learn how a prototype works.

The Ligier JS P325 will teach you how to brake in a straight line, as well as how to trail off the brake pedal towards corner entry as the downforce bleeds away. You’ll also learn how to use the downforce in medium and high-speed corners, with all these elements preparing you well to step up to the more powerful and grippy LMP2 vehicle. 

The JS P325’s challenging handling balance will certainly take some getting used to compared to the easier driving style offered by LMGT3 racers, but the lessons learned will prove immensely useful for stepping into faster prototype vehicles. 

If you’d rather stick with the LMGT3 class for now, Coach Dave Academy’s guide into the category will prove useful if you’re not sure what car to choose.

• Aggressive Drivers: 6.5/10
• Endurance Racers: 7.0/10
• Casual Sim Racers: 5/10

Wrapping Up

It’ll take time, but the Ligier JS P325 provides one of the most rewarding driving experiences within LMU once you understand how to make the most of it. It’ll teach you the basics of driving a downforce-heavy prototype, and set you on the pathway to reaching the even faster LMP2 and Hypercar classes.