Asian Le Mans: Ligier and CD Sport champions and runners-up in LMP3 with the #27 and #3 Ligier JS P320s!
19 & 20 February 2022 – The Ligier JS P320 finished the Asian Le Mans Series in a blaze of glory with a Ligier JS P320 triple, the third of the season in the last race of the championship on Sunday 20th February in Abu Dhabi. G-Drive Racing scored its first victory in LMP3 with its #26 Ligier JS P320 followed by two more Ligiers #27 and #3 run by the CD Sport team. The latter clinched the LMP3 title with its #27 Ligier JS P320 and its sister car #3 filled the runner-up spot. It's the second year running that the latest-generation LMP3s built by the French constructor are crowned in the Asian Le Mans Series. Without a doubt the best possible way to kick off the Automobile Club de l'Ouest's campaigns! Next leg: the European Le Mans Series and the Michelin Le Mans Cup!
Just two weeks after being launched the curtain came down on Asian Le Mans Series with the last two races (nos 3 and 4) on the Yas Marina circuit in Abu Dhabi.
Another podium clinched by CD Sport
Race three kicked of the weekend on Saturday 19th February. The #27 Ligier JS P320 entered by CD Sport for Christophe Cresp, Antoine Doquin and Steven Palette started from the back of the grid and fought its way up into third place in the classification by the second hour where it stayed till the chequered flag. With the two second places already clinched in the opening races in Dubai the previous week the crew in #27 were still favourites in the LMP3 title chase.
The #8 Ligier JS P320 run by Nielsen Racing driven by Anthony Wells and Colin Noble saw the flag in fourth place followed by CD Sport's #3 in the hands of Michael Jensen, Nick Adcock and Edouard Cauhaupe and #13 run by Inter Europol Competition for Alexander Bukhantsov, Nicolas Pino and Guilherme Moura De Oliveira. #13 which shone in the second free practice session by setting the fastest time was unable to concretise its performance in the race itself.
G-Drive Racing's #26 crewed by Fabrice Rossello, Xavier Lloveras and Vyaceslav Gutak, which shone in the first two races by setting the fastest times as well as scoring a podium finish in the first round, caught fire due to an oil leak in the second hour of the race. Gutak who was at the wheel at the time escaped unhurt. With the help of the constructor there on the spot in Abu Dhabi to provide backup, the team worked all night without stopping to repair the car and take part in the final race of the season.
G-Drive Racing took revenge and won the last round.
On Sunday 20th February the last round of the Asian Le Mans Series took place and it ended in a superb final for the Ligier JS P320. The #26 G-Drive Racing Ligier JS P320, which qualified third, fought at the front of the race and took the lead in the final hour, which it held till the chequered flag giving the team its maiden victory in the LMP3 category. A very impressive results given the misfortunes in race three.
#27 and #3 run by CD Sport also put on a great show. In the final hour they sliced their way up the classification helped by some superb overtaking moves to fill second and third places giving their team its second double of the season after the first race in Dubai the previous weekend. In addition, it was the French constructor's third Ligier JS P320 triple of the season.
The #13 Inter Europol Ligier JS P320 which spun at the start finished fifth in the category in front of #8 run by Nielsen Racing.
Ligier and CD Sport clinched the 2022 Asian Le Mans Series Championship titles in LMP3!
The cherry on the cake! CD Sport sealed the LMP3 Championship title with #27. The driver lineup of Cresp – Doquin – Palette showed impressive consistency during this series with three second places and a third. While Cresp and Doquin were already familiar with the car GT regular Palette was making his debut in sports prototypes at the wheel of the Ligier JS P320.
With a total of 69 points it finished ahead of its sister car, #3, the runner-up in LMP3. Into fourth came the #8 Nielsen Racing Ligier JS P320 in front of #26 entered by G-Drive Racing. The #13 Inter Europol Competition JS P320 came home seventh in the category.
All five Ligiers among the nine LMP3s entered crossed the finishing line in the four races with the exception of G-Drive Racing's #26 in the third round demonstrating yet again the bullet-proof reliability of the Ligier JS P320.
It's the second year running that the latest-generation LMP3 built by the French constructor won the title in the LMP3 category. Next: the European Le Mans Series and the Michelin Le Mans Cup 2022 season.
To consult the results of race 3, CLICK HERE
To consult the results of race 4, CLICK HERE
To consult the overall general classification in the LMP3 category, CLICK HERE
For more information on the Ligier JS P3220, CLICK HERE CLICK HERE
Photo Credit: CD Sport