A great line-up for the Ligier JS Cup France last round
18-19 October 2019, seventh and last round of the Ligier JS Cup France on the Nogaro track with two 4-hour races. Twenty-three Ligier JS2 Rs are on the track with a very fine line-up mixing gentlemen and professional drivers. Nicolas and Sacha Prost, Olivier Pernaut, Mathias Beche, Grégory Guilvert, Nicolas Ciamin, Steven Palette and Alain Ferté are here for this final. They share their views on the Ligier JS2 R and the Ligier JS Cup France, the first Ligier single-make series launched in 2019 and organised by Benoît Abdelatif of Max Mamers Management.
Olivier Pernaut, Orhès Racing's Team Manager, came to the first edition of the Ligier JS Cup France right away entering 6 Ligier JS2 Rs. For the last round, Nicolas and Sacha Prost are behind the wheel of the Ligier JS2 R #21 with Olivier and Mathias Beche is running on the #39. “I'm glad to be teaming with Nicolas and Sacha Prost and to have Mathias Beche with us on another car, explains Olivier. When we launched Orhès Racing thirteen years ago, the aim was to train and accompany gentlemen drivers. With the Ligier JS2 R, we can also have some professional or young drivers join us to have some fun.”
Nicolas Prost who ran in LM P1, LM P2 and Formule E is excited about this new experience: “The Ligier JS2 R is really great. I think it's one of the best quality/price ratio available today. It's only the Ligier JS2 R's first year. The base of the car is unbelievable. The Ligier JS Cup France's level is very good and the meetings are perfect to make the most of the car.”
“The car has a lot of potential, adds Sacha. It is very easy to run and very comfortable. Once you are inside you just want to drive as much as possible. In addition, it's very good-looking with its vintage look. It's the car we used to dream of when we were young”.
For the #21, the weekend started off great with the second fastest lap time in qualifying.
Mathias Beche, an LM P1, LM P2 and LM P3 sports-protoype regular, is running on Orhès Racing #39. “I was looking forward to discovering the car, said Mathias. I had heard a lot about it. It's a true racing car, very effective. It's also very easy to drive and not tricky at all for gentlemen drivers. You really enjoy the driving.”
Nicolas Ciamin, rally driver, is behind the wheel of the #6 Ligier JS2 R entered by the No Limit Racing team run by Ludovic Bellinato for the second time this year. His first was at Spa on 24-25 May where the team clinched second place. “I was looking forward to being back in the Ligier JS2 R. It's very interesting to drive on a track in addition to rally. It's a good training and it allows you to focus on and improve your driving. That's also where I started my career. I hope to be able to drive more next year in addition to a WRC 2 season.”
Grégory Guilvert, Champion in FFSA GT4 for the second year in a row, is driving the #28 Defi Performance Ligier JS2 R. “It's my fifth Ligier JS Cup France's race. I ran with MT Racing and Defi Performance and clinched first place with Yves Bandi at the Castellet on the #48 MT Racing. I have always enjoyed the concept of the series organised by Benoît Abdelatif. So much that I should have been in Las Vegas this weekend for the FFSA GT4 award ceremony and that instead I'm here in Nogaro! It's a real pleasure to drive the Ligier JS2 R and I'm impressed with the level of the different teams. The grid is well-filled which ensures some great battles on the track.”
Steven Palette, specialist of GT3s and GT4s, in the #48 MT Racing Ligier JS2 R with Yves Bandi was the fastest and claimed the pole position. It's Palette's fourth race this season. “The car is perfect to improve one's driving and to coach gentlemen drivers. I enjoyed working and accompanying all the MT Racing team and drivers setting up the car. I'm impressed with the level of performance achieved”.
Alain Ferté, who has been “negotiating curves” for the past 40 years and who is still driven by the same passion, is driving this weekend the #25 Napa Ligier JS2 R. “Great meetings, great cars, no need to say more! Everyone played the game: Ligier Automotive, Max Mamers Management's team and the competitors. With even more track time next year, the second season promises to be even more exciting.”
The first 4-hour race just ended. The #18 Orhès Racing Ligier JS2 R came out first with Franck Dallavalle, Serge Gallic and Guillaume Breard followed by the #72 entered by Zosh Compétition with Maxime and Arnold Robin, and the #21 Orhès Racing driven by Nicolas, Sacha Prost and Olivier Pernaut.
The second race will take place tomorrow between 9 am and 1pm. Great battles on the track are expected again!
To follow a full race report on this final round.
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Ligier JS Cup France
The Ligier JS Cup France is the first Ligier single-make series dedicated to the Ligier JS2 R, the latest sports car of the make. The series is organised by Max Mamers Management, the promoter of the Fun Cup and Classic Days among others. The Ligier JS Cup France includes seven races, six in France and one on the iconic Spa-Francorchamps track. For more information on the Ligier JS Cup France, please consult our website www.ligierjscupfrance.com.
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Ligier JS2 R
True successor to the Ligier JS2 that finished second in the 1975 Le Mans 24 Hours, the Ligier JS2 R has been designed exclusively for racing. Outside, a sporty look with powerful and dynamic lines. Inside, a comfortable cockpit to accommodate tall drivers. Its aim: to offer to all enthusiasts a car for endless hours of pleasure behind the wheel, in races or on track days.
Homologated in the FIA Free Formula Sports Cars (Group E) Category, the Ligier JS2 R has aleady two 100% Ligier playing fields with the Ligier JS Cup France and the Ligier European Series organised by the teams of the European Le Mans Series. It is also eligible in 24H SERIES, Ultimate Cup Series and in multiple national championships.
For more information:
Download the brochure on https://ligierautomotive.com/en/vehicles/silhouette/js2r/ or
Contact sales@ligierautomotive.com
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PHOTO CREDIT:
Underground Pictures