Ligier JS Cup France: Another victory for the #10 Zosh Di Environnement Ligier JS2 R at Le Mans
18 June 2021 - Second consecutive victory for the Zosh Di Environnement team with its #10 Ligier JS2 R. After Magny-Cours at the end of May, the #10 won the third round of the Ligier JS Cup France at Le Mans overall. The #15 MB Performance and the #70 LADC completed the Pro Am podium. The #39 Orhès Stephya finished fourth overall and first of the Am class.
In one day, the Ligier JS Cup France field went through free practice, qualifying and the six-hour race on the Bugatti Le Mans circuit. Early in the morning, the 19 competitors started with a three and a half hour free practice session. While the first half of the session was dominated by the #10 Zosh Di Environnement Ligier JS2 R driven by Jean-René Defournoux and Hugo Rosati (best lap in 1:41.839s), it was the #15 MB Performance car driven by Natan Bihel and Romain Carton that led the second half of the session (best lap in 1:43.618s).
The #70 LADC Ligier JS2 R with Thierry Petit and Grégory Servais at the controls qualified in pole position overall and in the Pro Am category with a best time of 1:44.114s. The #15 MB Performance was second on the grid, followed by the #39 Orhès Stephya driven by Jean Maurin and Franck Petit, which started first in the Am category.
There was no respite for the drivers who then moved on to the six-hour race. A calm race which was not marked by any incident. The #70 LADC Ligier JS2 R took off at the start and built up a slight gap with its rivals, holding onto the lead for the first 27 laps. But at the end of the first hour of the race, the #15 MB Performance took the lead. It was followed by the #10 Zosh Di Environnement, which made a very good comeback after starting from fifteenth place on the grid. The #70 LADC was third while the #39 Orhès Stephya was still leading the race in the Am category.
The #10 Zosh Di Environnement Ligier JS2 R and the #15 MB Performance battled for first place. While the #10 led from lap 38 to 86, the #15 took the lead from lap 87 to 117. Throughout the race, the #70 remained third in the Pro Am class and the #39 Orhès Stephya first in the Am class.
While the #15 MB Performance Ligier JS2 R dominated the race after the third hour, it received a drive through penalty for not respecting the mandatory pit stop period. The #10 regained the lead and crossed the finishing line first. It clinched its second consecutive win overall since the beginning of the championship . The #15 came second, followed by the #70 LADC. In the Am category, the victory went to the #39 Orhès Stephya. The team scored a double podium with the #18 Orhès Sambms Athesi Bma driven by Franck Dallavalle and Micael Costa coming third, behind the #408 No Limit Racing driven by Olivier Fernandez and Sébastien Margot.
Pro Am podium:
1 - #10 Zosh - Di Environnement
2 - #15 MB Performance
3 - #70 LACD
Am podium:
1 - #39 Orhès Stephya
2 - #408 No Limit Racing
3 - #18 Orhès Sambms Athesi Bma
The next meeting of the Ligier JS Cup France will take place on September 3 at the Paul Ricard circuit, in Le Castellet.