By alley - Sep 23, 2016, 2:37 PM ET

IMSA: Onroak unveils Ligier JS P217

Images of the first 2017 IMSA and FIA World Endurance Championship P2 challenger was revealed on Friday by Onroak. Its brand-new JS P217 chassis, which will compete in IMSA's WeatherTech SportsCar Championship Prototype class and in the WEC's spec P2 category, was unveiled ahead of the three other approved P2 designs from Dallara, ORECA, and Riley/Multimatic.

"The presentation of a new model is always a very emotional moment, said Onroak president Jacques Nicolet. "After several months of intensive work by all our teams in the utmost secrecy, it's a great thrill today to unveil our new LM P2 in which we have invested all our passion and our professionalism. After the Ligier JS P2 and the Ligier JS P3 in 2014 and 2015 we're very proud to present the Ligier JS P217. It retains the initials 'JS,' the historic homage to Jo Schlesser by Guy Ligier who is very much in my thoughts today."

Compared to the 2015-spec JS P2 chassis it will replace (below), the JS P217 features a more contoured and higher nose which allows greater airflow into and around the chassis keel. Highly sculpted sidepods are also a departure from the current car.

Florida-based Extreme Speed Motorsports became the first acknowledged customers of the JS P217 earlier this week when it confirmed it will return to the WeatherTech Championship with two Nissan turbo V6-powered cars using Nissan-branded Daytona Prototype international bodywork. And with Ligier's recent history and popularity in P2, it would be a surprise if ESM fielded the only JS P217s next year.