The MOTOR Awards 2021: Best Race Car

Welcome to the MOTOR Awards 2021, where our team offer a tip of the hat to those that displayed automotive excellence in the last 12 months.

Best Race Car Winner: Ligier JS F3-S5000

Australians, let us all rejoice, for our race cars are loud and fast.

The loudest and fastest of which is the Ligier JS F3-S5000, and after what feels like an eternal gestation, the car finally reached its long-anticipated potential after last year’s planned debut S5000 championship was put on ice. With that first series run and done this year instead, we aren’t going out on a limb by saying the Ligier JS F3-S5000 lived up to the hype.

It is everything racing fans have been baying for from modern open wheel categories. The cars appear aggressive even sitting still with fat, staggered Hoosier slick rubber, and while the wings look fantastic, the aero outputs are minimal.

Oh, and the sound! The 5.2-litre naturally aspirated V8 that powers each S5000 is an all-star singing on its own, but a full grid of them bouncing off the rev limiter at the race start is something that needs to be experienced. But, most importantly for a race car, the on-track product is top notch. Drivers are forced to wrestle the car as it dances on the limits of adhesion, and the passes are frenetic and hard fought.

60

The best part? While many of the components (including the chassis) are built overseas, the car is bolted together right here in Australia at Garry Rogers Motorsport. Australian open-wheel racers finally have a platform to put their talents on display, without needing to find several million euros down the back of the couch.

The S5000 series forced Motorsport Australia to pull the coveted Gold Star Award out of the trophy cabinet, blow the dust off it, and award it Joey Mawson for his championship victory. And now Aussie racing fans are going to get a double dose of S5000 goodness as they take to the track at both Sydney Motorsport Park and Mount Panorama to see out the traditional racing calendar Down Under.

Ever wondered what a V8 Supercar would be like reanimated as an open wheeler? No, just us? Well, the Ligier JS F3-S5000 is the answer. Get yourself trackside to see these monsters in action ASAP. You will not be disappointed. – CK

60

Honourable mention: Audi RS Q e-tron

The range-extender EV Audi RS Q e-tron represents arguably the greatest technological advancement in the history of the Dakar rally. With genuine outright victory potential, it combines the powertrains of a Formula E and DTM racer to create an incredibly capable off-roader. Oh, and the last time Audi repurposed a race engine we got the 200 Trans-Am and indomitable IMSA 90 GTO. Colour us excited.

60

Honourable mention: Corvette C8.R

Corvette Racing is on a tear in 2021, having won the GTLM class in eight of the 10 races so far in the IMSA championship. The GTE-spec C8.R earns its honourable mention not just for its on-track performance, but for that success simultaneously being used to develop the bonkers LT6 engine GM just debuted in the Z06 production car.

60