Ligier European Series, Spa: High-tension in the Belgian Ardennes Forest
The Ligier European Series drivers did justice to the legendary Belgium track during the two one-hour races at round four of the season. On a dry track, they gave it their all and didn't give up until they took the chequered flag. In JS P4, the series welcomed two new winners. Mexican driver Ian Aguilera, who had claimed his first pole position the day before, repeated the feat in Race 1, taking his first win of the season with RLR MSport. In Race 2, Frenchman Iko Segret won for the first time with ANS Motorsport. In JS2 R, the battle was just as fierce. While ANS Motorsport and Frenchman Clément Moreno emerged victorious in Race 1, Spain's Marta Garcia and Iron Dames by M Racing won Race 2 to claim their first victory in the championship.
Twenty cars at the start, including the #85 Ligier JS2 R of the Iron Dames and Marta Garcia
- Twelve cars are entered in the JS P4 category and eight Ligier JS2 R in GT.
- Ben Caisley drive solo in Nielsen Racing's #4 car. British team P4 Racing, present at the special round of Le Mans in June, returns to the Ligier European Series with its #27 Ligier JS P4, this time driven by Jeremy Ferguson. Fellow Japanese driver Ryuichirou Ohtsuka will join Yuki Tanaka in Pegasus Racing's #16 car.
- Iron Dames, which competes in the FIA World Endurance Championship, European Le Mans Series and Michelin Le Mans Cup, will participate in the Ligier European Series for the first time. The famous team, renowned for promoting female racers, is joining forces with M Racing and will line up the #85 JS2 R for up-and-coming young driver Marta Garcia. The 24-year-old Spaniard, who began her career in karting at age 10, won the first season of the F1 Academy in 2023 with seven victories. Undoubtedly, she will be a formidable opponent for the JS2 R category competitors.
“I am thrilled to be joining the Ligier European Series with Iron Dames and M Racing at such a legendary circuit like Spa,” comments Marta Garcia. “This will be my first experience in a GT car, and I am eager to take on this new challenge, learn and adapt as quick as possible. It's an exciting step in my career, and I'm happy to represent Iron Dames in this endeavor and grateful for the opportunity.”
- Louis Stern will drive solo in Pegasus Racing's #18 JS2 R. Uruguayan Tomas Granzella will replace Cindy Gudet behind the wheel of the #53 from M Racing. The highly touted French female driver is recovering from an operation on her arm following an accident at Hockenheim in another championship.
To read the Spa preview, CLICK HERE.
RLR MSport, Team Virage and M Racing on pole
- RLR MSport & Team Virage were the fastest JS P4s in free practice, with the #77 driven by Ian Aguilera and the #66 by Jeronimo Berrio. In the Ligier JS2 R category, M Racing set the fastest time in both sessions with Uruguayan driver Tomas Granzella.
- Ian Aguilera and RLR MSport secured their first pole position of the season in the opening qualifying session. After a hard-fought 15-minute session, Ian Aguilera was the fastest with his JS P4 #77 (RLR M Sport), clocking a lap of 2:21.749. In the second session, the battle raged between the #1 and the #66 of Team Virage. In the end, it was the #66 driven by Jeronimo Berrio who took the lead with a lap of 2:20.391. This was the Colombian's second pole position of the season, and the third for the #66 crew.
- After dominating both free practice sessions this morning, Tomas Granzella topped both qualifying sessions with the #53 M Racing JS2 R. A lap of 2:30.432, followed by a second in 2:31.500, earned him the double Spa Heat position in the JS2 R. These were the Uruguayan driver's first two pole positions in the Ligier European Series.
To read the article on Free Practice 1, CLICK HERE.
To read the article on Free Practice 2, CLICK HERE.
To read the article on qualifying, CLICK HERE.
Race 1: Victory for RLR MSport and ANS Motorsport
- The first race of the Spa Heat took place on the Spa-Francorchamps circuit on Saturday morning, August 24.
- RLR MSport and Ian Aguilera took their first win of the season with the #77 JS P4. Romain Favre (Inter Europol Competition #7) crossed the line in second place, followed by Jeronimo Berrio (Team Virage #66) in third.
- After the race, the #7 received a 5-second penalty for failing to comply with the pitstop procedure and dropped back to third place, behind Team Virage's #66 and Colombians Jeronimo Berrio and Pedro Moreno.
- In the AM standings, P4 Racing's #27, driven by Jeremy Ferguson, was the fastest car, ahead of its rivals.
- The JS2 R class was once again hotly contested, and the podium was decided right up to the chequered flag. ANS Motorsport took first place with Clément Moreno at the wheel of the #31, the French driver's third win of the season. They were followed by Tomas Granzella (M Racing #53) and David Caussanel and Julien Schell (Pegasus Racing #29). The two French drivers also finished first in the PRO-AM standings, while Clément Moreno topped the AM standings.
CLICK HERE for Race 1 results.
CLICK HERE for the full article on Race 1.
Race 2: First victory for ANS Motorsport in JS P4 and for Iron Dames by M Racing in JS2 R
- Race 2 of the Spa Heat took place in the early afternoon under beautiful blue skies.
- In the Ligier JS P4, the suspense was total until the last lap, when Iko Segret (ANS Motorsport #6) attacked Romain Favre (Inter Europol Competition #7). The latter was taken out by another competitor and hit the safety barriers. The French driver restarted, but fell back in the standings.
- At the chequered flag, the RLR MSport JS P4 #77, driven by Ian Aguilera, was in first place, taking its second win of the season, following its victory in Race 1 this morning. Iko Segret (ANS Motorsport #6) was second, followed by Haydn Chance and Theo Micouris in the Team Virage #1.
- The #77 was sanctioned after the race for not respecting the pit stop procedure and received a 5-second penalty. It dropped back to third place. Iko Segret and ANS Motorsport inherited victory, their first of the season after three second-place finishes in the two previous rounds (Paul Ricard and Le Mans). Haydn Chance and Theo Micouris got promoted to second place with the Team Virage #1 car, and picked up valuable points in the provisional championship standings.
- In the AM standings, Jeremy Ferguson once again lead his rivals with P4 Racing's #7 JS P4.
- In the JS2 R class, Marta Garcia, driving the #85 Iron Dames by M Racing, took the lead at the start over poleman Tomas Granzella in the #53 M Racing car. The battle raged in the top 3.
- Following the mandatory pitstops, Louis Stern, driving the #18 from Pegasus Racing, came out with the lead ahead of Clément Moreno (ANS Motorsport #31) and Julien Schell (Pegasus Racing #29).
Marta Garcia (Iron Dames by M Racing #85) regained first place four laps before the chequered flag, ahead of Julien Schell (Pegasus Racing #29) and Tomas Granzella (M Racing #53). The young Spanish driver resisted the onslaught of her rivals and crossed the finish line in the lead, taking her first Ligier European Series win on her debut in the series.
- Julien Schell and David Caussanel (#29 Pegasus Racing) were second and first in the PRO-AM category. Tomas Granzella and M Racing finished third in the JS2 R overall classification. Clément Moreno in the #31 of ANS Motorsport finished fourth overall and first in the AM category.
CLICK HERE for Race 2 results.
CLICK HERE for the full Race 2 article.
CLICK HERE for provisional standings.
The next Ligier European Series race weekend, the fifth of this 2024 season, will take place at the Mugello circuit in Italy on September 27 and 28.
For more information on the series, CLICK HERE.