Ligier JS Cup France: MB Performance back on the top of the podium at Nogaro
Saturday 2 October 2021 - Second race of the weekend for the Ligier JS Cup France at Nogaro. After a third place in race 1, the #15 MB Performance Ligier JS2 R took its revenge and won race 2. The #6 No Limit Racing car finished second and set the fastest lap of the race. The #22 of ARC - Zosh completed the podium in third place. In the Am category, the #73 of Orhès VS Compétition took the first spot.
The drivers of the Ligier JS Cup France have had one night to recover from the four hours of racing, the day before.
The start was given at 9am sharp. The order on the grid was determined by the results of race 1. The #10 Zosh Di Environnement Ligier JS2 R driven by Jean-René Du Fournoux and Hugo Rosati started on pole position, followed by the #70 of LADC with Thierry Petit and Grégory Servais and the #15 of MB Performance with Natan Bihel and Romain Carton at wheel. In the Am category, the #18 Orhès Sambms Athesi Bma of Franck Dallavalle, Rocco Spano and Micael Costa took the start in first position.
An hour after the start, the #10 Zosh Di Environnement Ligier JS2 R was still in the lead. It was followed by the #6 No Limit Racing car driven by Nicolas Ciamin and Elie Dubelly and the #18 of Orhès Sambms Athesi Bma. The #10 dominated the first 62 laps of the race, before being overtaken at the end of the second hour by the #15 of MB Performance.
The #15 Ligier JS2 R remained in the lead for 14 laps before being overtaken again by its rival, the #10 of Zosh Di Environnement, which held onto its position until lap 105, around the start of the third hour. In the Am category, the #81 PP Atelier du Pain driven by Julien Caussade and David Chiche took the lead, followed by the #408 of No Limit Racing driven by Olivier Fernandez and Sébastien Margot. The #18 of Orhès Sambms Athesi Bma fell back to third place.
Shortly after the start of the third hour, the #6 No Limit Racing Ligier JS2 R claimed the first spot. But with fifteen laps to go before the chequered flag, the #15 of MB Performance doubled its efforts and crossed the finishing line first. Winner of the opening race at Spa in May, the drivers Natan Bihel and Romain Carton have since then occupied the podiums without ever reaching the top step again. It is now done at Nogaro. The #6 came second and set the fastest lap in the race in 1:33.579s while the #22 ARC - Zosh driven by Paul Corduan, Laurent and Clément Dub finished third.
In the Am category, victory went to the #73 Ligier JS2 R of Orhès VS Compétition driven by Rémi, Axel and Didier Van Straaten. The #408 of No Limit Racing finished second ahead of the #48 LADC driven by Yves Bandi and Martin Masse.
Pro Am Podium:
1 - #15 MB Performance
2 - #6 No Limit Racing
3 - #22 ARC 22 - Zosh
Am Podium:
1 - #18 Orhès VS Compétition
2 - #408 No Limit Racing
3 - #48 LADC
With 472 points, the #10 Zosh Di Environnement Ligier JS2 R leads the championship in the Pro Am category. But its rivals the #70 LADC and the #15 MB Performance are not far behind, with 461 and 458.5 points each.
The #18 Orhès Sambms Athesi Bma Ligier JS2 R, fourth overall with 433.5 points, leads in the Am class. Behind it, the #39 Orhès Stephya (428.5 points) and the #3 Zosh GDI (421 points).
The next and penultimate race of the 2021 Ligier JS Cup France season will take place on 16 October at the Portimao circuit in Portugal.
Photo credit: Nicolas Delpierre