European Le Mans Series, Mugello: Pole position and podium 100% Ligier JS P320
For the first time in history, the Ligier JS P320s taking part in the 2024 European Le Mans Series season raced on the highly technical Mugello circuit in Italy. The Ligier teams dominated the entire meeting, setting the fastest times in the two free practice sessions, taking pole position and scoring a 100% Ligier JS P320 podium at the end of the 4-hour race on Sunday, September 29.
Best free practice times for COOL Racing and Team Virage
- The Ligier JS P320s dominated the competition right from the first free practice session, with COOL Racing's #17 setting a lap of 1:42.237 with Manuel Espirito Santo at the controls. The Portuguese driver beat the #15 Ligier JS P320 by 0.747s and the #8 Team Virage Ligier JS P320 by 1.274s.
- The following day, Saturday September 28, Team Virage's #8 Ligier JS P320 led the second free practice session with a lap of 1:44.215, set by Gillian Henrion.
- The second free practice session was disrupted when the COOL Racing JS P320 #17 ran off the track, hitting the safety barriers and coming to rest on the trackside.
Second pole position for COOL Racing
- Then it was time for qualifying. COOL Racing's #17, repaired after FP2, was the fastest. At the start of the session, Manuel Espirito Santo set a time of 1:41.083, which was not beaten by the rest of the field. The Portuguese driver thus gave the team its second pole position of the season.
Race interrupted by multiple Safety Cars
- On Sunday, September 29, competitors took to the Mugello circuit in sunshine and mild temperatures for four hours.
- The start went off without a hitch for Miguel Cristovão, at the wheel of the #17 COOL Racing JS P320. Starting from pole position, he got off to a good start and maintained his lead in the class.
- At the rear, the #11 Eurointernational Ligier JS P320, driven by Matt Bell and starting from ninth on the grid, quickly climbed up the field to fourth position.
- The race was then neutralized for the first time to clear a LMP2 from the gravel trap.
- On the restart, Matt Bell, driving the #11 Eurointernational Ligier JS P320, took advantage of the situation to take third place.
- #17 COOL Racing Ligier JS P320 was still leading the LMP3 class when #43 Inter Europol Competition LMP2 pushed it into the gravel trap. Miguel Cristovão lost precious positions, allowing #88 Inter Europol Competition Ligier JS P320 to take the lead.
- Fate then took its toll on the #17 COOL Racing Ligier JS P320, which was at fault following contact with the Team Virage #8 Ligier JS P320 driven by Julien Gerbi.
- After 90 minutes of racing, the battle raged between the leading cars. #11 Eurointernational Ligier JS P320 and #88 Inter Europol Competition Ligier JS P320 were second and third respectively. Following contact between the two Ligiers, Alexander Bukhantsov (Inter Europol Competition #88) spun, losing many places in the standings.
- After 90 minutes, the second Safety Car entered the track, followed soon after the restart by a third neutralization following numerous run-offs.
- A fourth Safety Car, later changed to a red flag, neutralized the race once again after the #60 Proton Competition Porsche ran off the track and hit the safety barriers on the pit straight. The driver escaped unhurt, and the track had to be cleared of all debris before the race could be restarted.
- After twenty minutes of neutralization, the race could resume. Then the #17 Cool Racing Ligier JS P320 hit the safety barriers after contact with the #5 RLR MSport Ligier JS P320. It was unable to restart. This incident lead to the Safety Car's fifth and final outing on track.
A 100% Ligier JS P320 podium
- With an hour to go before the chequered flag, the race resumed with the #15 RLR MSport Ligier JS P320, driven by Gaël Julien, in the lead. However, the Frenchman was forced to pit for a “splash and dash”, demoting him to third place.
- This benefited Gillian Henrion, at the wheel of Team Virage's #8 Ligier JS P320, who took the lead. The young driver, 2022 Ligier European Series Champion, gives Team Virage and team-mates Julien Gerbi and Bernardo Pinheiro, 2023 Ligier European Series Vice-Champion, their second win of the season.
- The #15 RLR MSport Ligier JS P320, driven by Michael Jensen, Nick Adcock and Gaël Julien, finished second, followed by Alexander Bukhantsov, Kai Askey and Pedro Perino in the #88 Inter Europol Competition Ligier JS P320.
- The race for the title will therefore be decided next month in Portimão, when the season finale takes place. With just one point separating the championship leaders, #11 Eurointernational Ligier JS P320 (83 points) from its pursuers, #8 Team Virage Ligier JS P320 (82 points) and #15 RLR MSport Ligier JS P320 (81 points), the race for the title promises to be breathtaking!
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