Ligier European Series: Team Virage and ANS Motorsport, the champions of the 2023 season, finish in style in Portugal!
The weather had its way on Saturday, October 21, for the final two races of the 2023 season on the Portimão circuit in Portugal. But what a finale! Despite an impressive crash earlier in the weekend, 2023 JS P4 champion Mihnea Stefan took victory in Race 1 (#48 Team Virage). In GT, Julien Lemoine (#42 ANS Motorsport) secured his title by finishing first in Race 1. Despite difficult conditions, victory in Race 2 went to Bernardo Pinheiro and George King (#60 Team Virage) in the JS P4 class, and once again to Julien Lemoine (#42 ANS Motorsport) in the JS2 R class.
Free practice: Team Virage, LR Motorsport and RLR Msport share top spot
After Spa, it was at Portimão that the drivers experienced a deluge on the track. The weather was such that several teams decided not to take part in the first free practice session on Thursday, October 19 at 3.30 pm. This was particularly the case for the PRO-AM teams.
JS P4 category
• Team Virage's #48 Ligier JS P4 with Mihnea Stefan topped Session 1 with a best lap of 2:07.007. At the end of the session, however, the Romanian suffered an impressive crash, from which he fortunately emerged unscathed. The car was badly damaged, however, and had to forego the second free practice session and qualifying.
• In AM, Georgios-Periklis Kolovos and Kaitatzis Panagiotis in the #4 HPRacing by Monza Garage car set the fastest lap in 2:16.797.
• The following day, in session 2, the #7 LR Motorsport with Simone Riccitelli and Jacopo Mazza set the fastest lap in 2:03.293.
• The #50 Les Deux Arbres with Louis Rossi and Steve Zacchia set the fastest time in the PRO-AM class in 2:04.849.
• In AM, Georgios-Periklis Kolovos and Kaitatzis Panagiotis aboard the #4 of HPRacing by Monza Garage topped the timesheets with a lap of 2:08.047.
JS2 R category
• David Rodorigo in the #43 LR Motorsport car led Session 1 overall and in the AM class with a lap of 2:19.616.
• In Session 2, Maximus Mayer and Martin Rich (making his return to the series after a first appearance on this same circuit in 2022) in the #10 RLR MSport were fastest overall and in the PRO-AM class, with a lap completed in 2:10.762.
• David Rodorigo in the LR Motorsport #43 set the fastest lap in the AM class in 2:10.832.
For the results of Free Practice 1, CLICK HERE.
For the results of Free Practice 2, CLICK HERE.
Qualifying : LR Motorsport, RLR MSport and Les Deux Arbres take the last poles of the season
JS P4 category
• Simone Riccitelli in the #7 LR Motorsport won ahead of his rivals in the first qualifying session on Friday, October 20, with a lap of 1:47.397.
• In the PRO-AM class, Louis Rossi in the #50 Les Deux Arbres set the fastest lap in 1:49.997.
• Georgios-Kolovos Periklis set the fastest lap in the AM class in the #4 HPRacing by Monza Garage with a time of 1:52.478.
• The second qualifying session was led by Ian Aguilera in the RLR MSport #75 with a lap of 1:47.679.
• In the PRO-AM class, Steve Zacchia in the #50 Les Deux Arbres set a lap of 1:47.744.
• Kevin Madsen in Team Virage's #1 set the fastest AM class lap in 1:47.814.
JS2 R category
• Jacques Nicolet in the #86 Les Deux Arbres clinched his first pole of the season for Race 1 on the last lap with a time of 1:58.069. He was also the fastest driver in the AM class.
• In PRO-AM, Martin Rich in the RLR MSport #10 set the fastest lap in 1:59.901.
• In session 2, Maximus Mayer in the #10 RLR MSport Ligier JS2 R achieved his sixth consecutive pole position of the season in 1:53.997. He is the only driver in 2023 to have achieved this feat. He was also the fastest driver in the PRO-AM class.
• In the AM class, it was current championship leader Julien Lemoine, in the ANS Motorsport #42, who set the fastest lap in 1:54.655.
For the results of qualifying 1, CLICK HERE.
For the results of qualifying 2, CLICK HERE.
Race 1: Team Virage and ANS Motorsport win.
For the first time since the start of the meeting, the drivers raced in less tricky conditions, without rain and on an almost dry track for the start.
JS P4 category
• Right from the start, a great battle erupted between the #7 Ligier JS P4 of LR Motorsport (Simone Riccitelli) and the #60 of Team Virage (George King). Both teams were in contention for the vice-championship title.
• Back after his accident in Free Practice 1, Mihnea Stefan in Team Virage's #48 made an excellent start from the back of the grid and gained four places.
• However, George King (#60) lost several places as a result of taking too wide a corner. Mihnea Stefan (#48) slipped ahead of Chun-Ting Chou (#11) for second place, three seconds behind Simone Riccitelli (#7), still in the lead.
• A fierce duel began between #11 and #60 for third place. After several passes at arms, George King took the lead.
• The pit-stop window is open. Mihnea Stefan stopped before his rival Simone Riccitelli, who remained on track. The #7 and #60 stop at the same time and Jacopo Mazza (#7) emerged ahead of Bernardo Pinheiro (#60). Although the Swiss driver managed to get out of the pitlane before Mihnea Stefan reached the end of the pit straight, the Portuguese driver was overtaken by his Team Virage team-mate.
• Mihnea Stefan took the lead. More than five seconds separate the two Team Virage cars. Panagiotis Kaitatzis in the #4 HPRacing by Monza Garage took third place at the expense of the #7.
• After a hectic start to the weekend, JS P4 Champion Mihnea Stefan took his seventh win of the season in the #48 Team Virage car. Bernardo Pinheiro and George King finished second in the #60, with the fastest lap of the race at 1:46.470 (Bernardo Pinheiro).
• Georgios-Periklis Kolovos and Panagiotis Kaitatzis in #4 rounded off the podium to win AM.
In PRO-AM, it's Les Deux Arbres' #50 with Louis Rossi and Steve Zacchia that took the win.
JS2 R category
• The #86 Ligier JS2 R of Les Deux Arbres (Jacques Nicolet) was overtaken by the #42 of ANS Motorsport (Julien Lemoine) on the second lap.
• The #43 of LR Motorsport (David Rodorigo) overtook the #10 of RLR MSport (Martin Rich) for fourth place.
• After the mandatory pit stop, David Rodorigo (#43) was second behind Julien Lemoine. But the #10, now driven by Maximus Mayer, raced towards the Italian driver and overtook him.
• For the sixth time this year, Julien Lemoine in ANS Motorsport's #42 topped the overall and AM standings. Maximus Mayer and Martin Rich finished second in RLR MSport's #10 and first in the PRO-AM category. Maximus Mayer was also the fastest driver in the GT class, with a lap of 1:52.875. David Rodorigo in the #43 LR Motorsport finished third.
For the results of race 1, CLICK HERE.
Race 2: Team Virage and ANS Motorsport tame the elements to win final race of the season
No sunshine for the last race of 2023, but a very wet track for the start of the race. A memorable end to the season for the teams and their drivers.
JS P4 category
• The race got underway under safety car conditions. It was only after a few minutes that the green flag was waved.
• The #75 Ligier JS P4 of RLR MSport with Ian Aguilera kept the lead over the #50 of Les Deux Arbres (Steve Zacchia). Behind, the #7 of LR Motorsport (Jacopo Mazza) overtook the #1 of Team Virage (Kevin • Madsen) for third place. It was then the turn of the #4 of HPRacing by Monza Garage (Panagiotis Kaitatzis) to overtake the #1.
• The #4 continued its ascent and stole third place from the #7. Moments later, the latter spun and dropped to eighth place.
• The #4 of HPRacing by Monza Garage gained one position after overtaking the #50 of Les Deux Arbres. Ian Aguilera in #75 fiercely protects first position. The pressure imposed by the Greek driver finally allowed him to take first position.
• The pit-stop window opens. On track, as the #75 overtook the #4 for first place, the latter slipped and ran off the track. The car quickly rejoined the race and regained the lead, after its rivals made their compulsory stop.
• The #4 missed the stop window. It made its driver change twenty minutes before the end of the race, but was penalized by a two-minute stop-and-go.
• Eleven minutes from the chequered flag, George King in #60 became the new race leader. The #75 with Haytham Qarajouli overtook the #50 and then the #4. The #7 with Simone Riccitelli at the wheel did the same and was third. A few seconds later, the driver of the #75 slipped and spun, to the advantage of the #7 and #50.
• Bernardo Pinheiro and George King won the final race of the season, aboard Team Virage's #60. The duo officially became Vice-Champion JS P4 2023. Simone Riccitelli and Jacopo Mazza finished second in the #7 LR Motorsport, with Simone Riccitelli setting the fastest lap of the race in 2:04.070. The podium closed with the #50 Les Deux Arbres, driven by the duo Steve Zacchia / Louis Rossi, who won in PRO-AM.
• AM victory went to Lance Fenton and Kevin Madsen in Team Virage's #1.
JS2 R category
• RLR MSport's #10 Ligier JS2 R with Maximus Mayer at the wheel was unflappable despite the track conditions. He remained in the lead at the start.
• In second place, the ANS Motorsport #42 with Julien Lemoine engaged in an intense battle with David Rodorigo in the LR Motorsport #43.
• With the pitstops over, the #10 now driven by Martin Rich was still top of the class. As the #43 tried to overtake the #10, the two cars made contact. Not far behind, the #42 took advantage of the situation to recover a position.
• The #43 was penalized by a drive through for its contact with the #10, which caused it to lose its advantage in the race.
• Julien Lemoine and the ANS Motorsport #42 ended their season on a high note with a final double victory overall and in the AM class. Maximus Mayer and Martin Rich were second, with the added bonus of PRO-AM victory and the fastest race lap of 2:09.248 (with Maximus Mayer). David Rodorigo crossed the finish line third at the wheel of LR Motorsport's #43.
For the results of race 1, CLICK HERE.
Find the final championship standings HERE.
A new chapter closes for the Ligier European Series. See you on April 12 and 13, 2024 at the Barcelona circuit for the start of season 5 of the championship!
For more information on the Ligier JS P4, CLICK HERE.
For more information on the Ligier JS2, CLICK HERE.