Another LM P3 title for Ligier thanks to the #26 Ligier JS P3 run by Wimmer Werk Motorsport in the Ultimate Cup Series
18-19 October 2019, sixth and second-last round of the Ultimate Cup Series on the Magny-Cours circuit in France, and also the first and only night race of the season. The #26 Wimmer Werk Motorsport Ligier JS P3 scored its fourth victory of the year giving Ligier the LM P3 title one race before the end of the championship. This is already the third LM P3 title won by Ligier in 2019 after the Asian Le Mans Series and the European Le Mans Series. And the second title before the end of the season, which is not yet over!
The start was given at 5:25 pm on a wet track (officially) so the teams shod wet weather tyres. The #26 Wimmer Werk Motorsport Ligier JS P3 driven by Vincent Capillaire and Matthias Kaiser in second place on the grid snatched the lead right in the second corner. Battle was raging in the pack and the Team Virage Ligier JS P3 and the Norma run by Graff Racing tagged each other in the Château d'eau corner.
The #14 Inter Europol Competition Ligier JS P3 in the hands of the trio Constantin Schöll, Paul Scheuschner and the Central European Clio Cup champion, Thomas Pekar, quickly sliced past its rivals to take second place after being fourth on the grid.
Snoussi Ben Moussa in the #84 Ligier JS P3 from the Frédéric Sausset squad also made a very good start to the race and from last place on the grid he was already on the tail of the top 5!
A Full Course Yellow neutralised the race before the end of the first hour. A Norma spun and hit the rear of the #84 Ligier JS P3. The car was damaged in the incident and the team was obliged to pit it for repairs.
The teams took advantage of the FCY to carry out their first pit stops. The #14 Inter Europol Competition Ligier JS P3 put on slicks. It was the right strategic move and it paid off as the #14 Ligier JS P3 took the lead and opened up a comfortable gap of two laps in front of the #26 Wimmer Werk Motorsport Ligier JS P3.
But there was a major twist just before the start of the third hour when #14 had to stop at its pit for 16 minutes due to a mechanical problem. It rejoined in eighth place and the Wimmer Werk Motorsport Ligier JS P3 regained the lead.
It started to rain again in the fourth and last hour of the race. As the rain intensified the teams went back to wet weather tyres.
The #26 Wimmer Werk Motorsport Ligier JS P3 held on to its lead and crossed the finishing line with more than a lap in hand over its rivals. The #94 and #95 Team Virage Ligier JS P3s both finished in the top 5. The #14 Inter Europol Competition Ligier JS P3 was unable to make up the time lost and came home in eighth place. The #84 Ligier JS P3 run by Frédéric Sausset's squad, which had been involved in an accident early on in the race, saw the flag in last place.
Although it was absent at the last round in Valencia, nobody could unseat the #26 Wimmer Werk Motorsport Ligier JS P3. With one race to go to the final round it has clinched the Ultimate Cup Series title with four victories and three pole positions to its name. It is the second time this year that Ligier has won the LM P3 title one race before the final. It is also the Ligier JS P3's third LM P3 title of the season after the Asian Le Mans and European Le Mans Series.
Rendezvous on 1-3 November for the final round of the Ultimate Cup Series on the Paul Ricard circuit at Le Castellet. In the meantime, direction Portimao on the weekend of 26-27 October for the final of the European Le Mans Series.
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Ligier JS P3
Launched in 2015, the Ligier JS P3 quickly won over the LM P3 category. In three years (2015-2018), it clinched about fifteeen titles in several championships around the world, winning the Asian Le Mans Series, the European Le Mans Series and the V de V Endurance Series three years in a row. In the United States, it has won the IMSA Prototype Challenge title two seasons in a row, in 2017 and 2018. In 2019, it has already scored the European Le Mans Series and Ultimate Cup Series titles.
For more information on the Ligier JS P3:
Download the brochure on https://ligierautomotive.com/en/vehicles/sports-prototypes/ligier-js-p3/ or
Contact sales@ligierautomotive.com
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Ligier JS P320
Unveiled during the 2019 24 Hours of Le Mans, the Ligier JS P320 is the worthy heir to the Ligier JS P3. Homologated for 2020 to 2024, it will replace the Ligier JS P3 in European Le Mans Series, Michelin Le Mans Cup and Ultimate Cup Series as of 2020.
With 95% new bodywork, Ohlins dampers, a new more powerful Nissan V8 VK56 engine, an adapted cooling system and aerodynamics optimised for all circuits, the Ligier JS P320 is determined to surpass its elder sister.
For more information on the Ligier JS P320:
Download the brochure on https://ligierautomotive.com/en/vehicles/sports-prototypes/ligier-js-p320/ or
Contact sales@ligierautomotive.com
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Photo Credit
Maurice Camus