European Le Mans Series: Top 5 Ligier JS P325s in Barcelona
The 2025 season of the European Le Mans Series got underway. The Barcelona-Catalunya circuit hosted the first round of the European championship from April 4 to 6, 2025, marking the ELMS competition debut of the new generation of LMP3 prototypes. Eight new-generation LMP3 Ligiers are entered this season.
The Ligier teams showed their competitiveness from the start, setting the fastest times during the official test days and free practices, taking pole position, setting the fastest lap in the race and placing five Ligier JS P325s in the top 5 at the finish.
After four hours of intense racing, the #17 CLX Motorsport Ligier JS P325, driven by Adrien Closmenil, Theodor Jensen and Paul Lanchère, won after starting from pole position. Gillian Henrion, Michael Jensen and Nick Adcock, in the #15 RLR M Sport Ligier JS P325, finished second, ahead of the #88 Inter Europol Competition Ligier JS P325 driven by Timothy Creswick, Douwe Dedecker and Reece Gold. The #68 M Racing Ligier JS P325 (Quentin Antonel / Stéphane Tribaudini) and the #35 Ultimate Ligier JS P325 (Louis Rossi / Jean-Baptiste and Matthieu Lahaye) completed the top five, finishing fourth and fifth respectively.
- The Ligier JS P325s immediately made their mark at the front of the field, setting the fastest times in the four official test sessions spread over March 31 and April 1.
- The momentum continued in the first free practice session of the weekend, with the #17 CLX Motorsport Ligier JS P325 at the top of the timesheets. Adrien Closmenil set a lap of 1:37.536, once again putting a Ligier JS P325 in the lead. He was just ahead of #31 Racing Spirit of Léman' Ligier JS P325, driven by Marius Fossard in 1:37.755, and Team Virage's #8, with Rik Koen in 1:37.798.
- In the second free practice session, the #68 MRacing's JS P325 was the fastest, with a lap of 1:38.446 by Quentin Antonel. The #35 Ultimate Ligier driven by Matthieu Lahaye was second at just 0.415s, followed by Theodor Jensen and the #17 CLX Motorsport.
- In qualifying, Adrien Closmesnil, driving the #17 JS P325, set his best lap of 1:36.188 to put his LMP3 on pole position. Rik Koen, driving the #8 Team Virage Ligier JS P325, was second, followed by Ian Aguilera in the #11 Eurointernational Ligier JS P325.
- The 4 Hours of Barcelona got underway at 12 noon on Sunday, April 6, 2025, under the blue skies of the Catalan circuit.
- During the first few hours of the race, the battle for the top positions centered around the #17 CLX Motorsport Ligier JS P325, which started from pole position, and the #11 Eurointernational driven by Fabien Michal.
- After several safety car stoppages, the tension mounted in the final minutes of the race. Adrien Closmenil (CLX Motorsport #17) and Gillian Henrion, 2022 Ligier European Series champion, at the wheel of the #15 RLR MSport Ligier JS P325, battled it out until the chequered flag. Adrien Closmenil, Theodore Jensen and Paul Lanchère won, just 1:928s in front of the #15 of Gillian Henrion, Michael Jensen and Nick Adcock. Rounding out the top three was#88 Inter Europol CompetitionLigier JS P325, in the hands of Timothy Creswick, Douwe Dedecker and Reece Gold.
- M Racing #68 and Ultimate #35 finished fourth and fifth respectively, providing a 100% Ligier top 5 finish. Ian Aguilera set the fastest lap of the race in the #9 RLR MSport Ligier JS P325.
Paul Lanchère, CLX Motorsport #17, Ligier JS P325, 4 Hours of Barcelona winner:
“I made a pretty safe start in order to secure the race. At the end of my stint I was in first position and then passed the wheel to Theodor. It's a very good start to the season for us, we're ambitious and our aim is the title, so it's off to a good start.”
Theodor Jensen, CLX Motorsport #17, Ligier JS P325, 4 Hours of Barcelona winner:
“I started my stint with new tires, so everything went pretty well. I didn't really encounter any problems. We made a pit stop during the Virtual Safety Car, for strategic reasons. Then after 40 minutes I handed over the wheel to Adrien, who did a great job.”
Adrien Closmenil, CLX Motorsport #17, 4 Hours of Barcelona winner:
“My stint wasn't easy because I had to save my tires and fuel, but I'm very happy to have won this race with my teammates and CLX Motorsport, who did a great job.”
With this fine overall performance, the Ligier JS P325 makes a convincing debut in the European Le Mans Series, asserting its competitiveness from the outset.
The next round of the European Le Mans Series takes place on May 3 and 4 at Le Castellet, France.
Photo credit: DPPI
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