The ACO announced the Generation 2 LMP3 regulations in February 2019, with full implementation planned from 2020 to 2024. Four manufacturers received homologation under the new ruleset: Onroak Automotive (Ligier), Duqueine Automotive (Norma), ADESS AG, and Ginetta. The JS P320 was revealed on 4 June 2019, making it the first Gen II LMP3 car to be publicly shown.
Its predecessor, the JS P3, had been designed before LMP3 cars were permitted to race on the Circuit de la Sarthe. This meant the earlier car prioritised simplicity over aerodynamic efficiency, resulting in a lower top speed compared to rival designs such as the Norma M30. For the JS P320, Ligier Automotive collaborated with Exa Corporation to optimise aerodynamics across all circuit types, including the high-speed La Sarthe layout.
The JS P320 features approximately 95 percent new bodywork compared to its predecessor, along with Ohlins dampers and a revised cooling system. Generation 2 regulations permitted the addition of traction control, and the car also received safety-related updates including a redesigned driver headrest, seat structure, and Zylon side impact panels.
A key change was the adoption of the Nissan VK56 engine, which delivered approximately 35 horsepower more than the unit fitted to the JS P3. The car was designed to be buildable as an update kit from the previous generation, lowering the barrier for existing JS P3 operators to transition to the newer specification.
The JS P320 completed its initial shakedown at the Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours before its public launch. Its racing debut came at the Circuit Paul Ricard during the opening rounds of the 2020 Le Mans Cup and 2020 European Le Mans Series, at the 2020 4 Hours of Le Castellet. Of the twelve LMP3 cars entered for that event, eight were Ligier JS P320s, demonstrating the model's immediate commercial traction.
The car was homologated for use in a broad range of championships, including the Michelin Le Mans Cup, the European Le Mans Series, the Asian Le Mans Series, the Prototype Cup Germany, the IMSA Prototype Challenge, and the IMSA SportsCar Championship. This wide eligibility made it the dominant LMP3 platform across multiple continents.
The Ligier JS P320 continued the tradition established by its predecessors of providing a cost-effective, competitive LMP3 package for privateer teams. By being the first Generation 2 LMP3 design revealed and by capturing a large share of entries at its competitive debut, it set the tone for the 2020-2024 regulatory cycle. The combination of improved aerodynamic efficiency and the more powerful Nissan engine addressed the primary criticisms of the JS P3 while maintaining the platform's characteristic accessibility for customer teams.