#10 run by Zosh Compétition scores another victory in the 6-hour race on the Magny-Cours circuit

9 June: fourth round of the Ligier JS Cup France on the Nevers Magny-Cours circuit, which was also the first 6-hour race of the season. It was an action-packed event for the 27 Ligier JS2 Rs entered punctuated by several collisions. The #10 Ligier JS2 R run by Zosh Compétition - Di Environnement clinched its first pole position and scored its third victory. Into second came the #280 Milo Racing Ligier JS2 R followed by the #42 MT Racing Ligier JS2 R.

 

Sunday 9th June was a busy day for the  drivers in the Ligier JS Cup France. They had a 1-hour private session and a 1-hour qualifying session in the morning before the start of the first 6-hour race of the season at midday. In qualifying, #48 entered by MT Racing which, up till then had clinched all the pole positions, was beaten by the #10 Zosh Compétition - Di Environnement Ligier JS2 R with Hugo Rosati at the wheel giving the team from the Sarthe its first-ever pole with a great lap in 1m 51.839s. “We put the new tyres to good use in qualifying setting the best time in the early laps and we held on to pole throughout the whole session,” explained Rosati. Alongside him on the front row was #28 run by Défi 28.

The rain interfered with the getaway and a flying start was given behind the safety car. After two laps the Ligier JS2 Rs were unleashed on the circuit. The race was marked by several collisions and safety car deployments, which the teams had to cope with. With eight minutes to go to the finish the red flag was hung out after a car crashed. The #10 Ligier JS2 R run by Zosh Compétition - Di Environnement driven by Hugo Rosati and Jean-René Defournoux won the race, their third victory of the season. “It was a great Ligier race on the Magny-Cours circuit on which we really liked the cornering speeds of the car in the quick sectors, in particular in the Imola and Nürburgring chicanes, said Rosati. Our race strategy was a bit risky and we had to adapt according to the safety cars, but it paid off and we finished with a comfortable gap to our rivals,”. Defournoux added: “We decided to stop immediately after the first two laps under the safety car. We rejoined in last position. We were able to keep up a good pace throughout the race. After four hours we were in the top five and with forty minutes to go we were in first place just in front of #280 entered by Milo Racing. Hugo maintained a good lead and set his fastest lap in the race in the closing laps. I'm very happy with the car's performance as it's getting quicker and quicker. #3 also had a good race and finished eleventh with Rodolf Rosati and his nephew Claude Rosati who was having his first outing in the Ligier JS2 R.”

The #280 Milo Racing Ligier JS2 R put up a good fight and finished second. It was driven by a trio: Pascal Amand, Kevin Balthazar and Julien Ménard. It was a very emotional race for this driver line-up who had lost one of their team-mates, Philippe Roulet, a few days before the event.

The car was in sixth place on the grid and Balthazar quickly picked off his rivals. Ménard then did the second stint and put the JS2 R in the lead. “I did the third stint,” explained Amand. “Despite some poor times we stayed in the leading group. The rest of the race was punctuated by several safety cars. Our strategy was the right one as we came home second”. Balthazar added: “We were fighting at the front for the whole race thanks to a good strategy and a problem-free drive. We succeeded in clinching our first podium of the season.” A podium dedicated to Philippe Roulet.

On the third step of the podium were Grégory Servais and Dominique Lecru, the drivers of the #42 MT Racing Ligier JS2 R. “After a difficult qualifying session in which we only managed to set the ninth-fastest time, the MT Racing team did a fantastic job to give us a quick and reliable car for the race commented Grégory. The gap separating us from the lead is getting smaller at every race. It bodes well for the future. Roll on le Castellet!”

“We started with tyres that had done Spa, pointed out Dominique Lecru. We're very happy with our third place even if in the final hour we were hoping to finish a little higher up on the podium.”

Into fourth came another JS2 R run by MT Racing, #22. Completing the top 5 was #28 run by Défi 28.

Once again there were no major mechanical glitches. The Ligier JS2 Rs confirmed their reliability. The #10 Zosh Compétition – Di Environnement is first overall in the standings, one point in front of its sister car the #72 Zosh Compétition – Dirob. The #42 MT Racing is third.

Rendezvous for the fifth round in September on the Paul Ricard circuit after a well-deserved summer break!

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Photo Credit : DPPI Images