Ligier JS Cup France, Paul Ricard: new success for Zosh – J4R
After a well-deserved summer break, the Ligier JS Cup France returned to the Paul Ricard circuit on September 6 and 7, 2024, for the fifth round of the season. 31 Ligier JS2 Rs competed for honors during the 6-hour race under the Var sun. The Zosh - J4R team won for the third time this season.
- After four hours of private testing, the competitors began their one-hour free practice session on Friday afternoon, September 6. The XP Racing Ligier JS2 R #27 driven by Tomas Pompidou / Vincent / Tardivat set the fastest time in 2:15.074. Ranked Gentleman, it was ahead of the #83 Trajectus Motorsport 83 Elite with Vincent Bouteiller and Martin Lacquemanne (2:15.694).
- Thirty-minute qualifying takes place later in the day. The #15 TMP by LVR Ligier JS2 R takes pole position with Romain Boeckler in 2:14.856.
- The six-hour race starts on Saturday, September 7 at 9 a.m.
The #93 Ligier JS2 R of Zosh - J4R takes its third win of the season.
- The #93 Zosh - J4R Ligier JS2 R was back on top after two disappointing races, but not without battling right up to the very end with the #24 Baltisse Racing Ligier JS2 R. The latter dropped back in the standings following a post-race penalty.
- The #83 Trajectus Motorsport 83 Ligier JS2 R of Vincent Bouteiller and Martin Lacquemanne inherited second place overall, their second podium of the season.
- Enzo Lévêque's #87 DRIVN SRC Ligier JS2 R, who partnered for the race with Etienne Cheli, finished third. This was their first podium finish of the season.
- The Ligier JS2 R #9 of Orhès - Matimmo - Comeback currently leads the overall and Elite standings with 475 points, ahead of the Ligier JS2 R #93 of Zosch - J4R (418 points). With two races left on the calendar, nothing is certain yet.
Gentleman's standings: Zosh 22's #22 Ligier JS2 R claims its second victory!
- The #22 Zosh 22 Ligier JS2 R driven by the Maximilien Menu/ Guillaume Brichard duo won for the second time this season. It now boasts four podium finishes out of the five races.
- Silvain Pastoris and Léo Payen in the #61 SO24 by LADC Ligier JS2 R took second place for the first time.
- No Limit Racing's #408 Ligier JS2 R finished third with its trio of Guillaume Charpentier, Amaury Dours and Sébastien Margot.
- The #21 Orhès - Systemic Ligier JS2 R currently leads the provisional Gentleman standings with 389 points. It is followed by the Ligier JS2 R #22 of Zosh 22 (369 points).
Romain Boeckler at the wheel of the #15 TMP by LVR Ligier JS2 R consolidates his lead in the Junior rankings.
- Romain Boeckler started from pole position in the Junior class, and even in the overall standings, at the wheel of the #15 TMP by LVR Ligier JS2 R. He took off right from the start and widened the gap to the other Juniors. At the end of the 40-minute Junior class race, he took his second win of the season.
- The battle raged on behind. The three chasers were all within a second of each other at the finish. Thomas Martinez (Ligier JS2 R #9 d'Orhès - Matimmo - Comeback) won this truel and finished second ahead of Jérémy Azar (Ligier JS2 R #16 d'AMX) who scored his first podium.
- With one race remaining on the Junior calendar (the final at Portimão), nothing seems to stand in the way of Romain Boeckler's crown. With a 29-point lead over Vincent Bouteiller and Thomas Martinez, who are tied on 157 points, Romain Boeckler will need to start the Portimao final to claim the title*.
* 51 points are at stake in Portimao (50 points for victory and 1 point for pole position). Last place in the Junior standings earns 23 points.
For full results and provisional standings, CLICK HERE.
The next round of the Ligier JS Cup France will take place on September 27 and 28 on the Nogaro circuit. As this round does not count towards the Junior rankings, the Juniors will fight for the title in the championship final at Portimao on October 11 and 12.
The Ligier Junior Programme in brief:
- Provision of a JS P4 for the winner of the Junior ranking in the Ligier JS Cup France in 2024 to take part in the 2025 Ligier European Series season.
- 100,000 € for the JS2 R champion(s) to take part in the following season's Ligier European Series at the wheel of a JS P4 (prize system in effect since 2022).
- 150,000 € for the JS P4 champion(s) to compete the following season in the Michelin Le Mans Cup at the wheel of a Ligier JS P320 (LMP3) (prize system in effect since 2022).
To find out more about the Ligier Junior Programme, CLICK HERE.
To find out more about the Junior ranking in the Ligier JS Cup France and the Ligier Junior Programme in this championship, CLICK HERE.
For more information on the Ligier JS Cup France, CLICK HERE.
To find out more about the Ligier European Series, CLICK HERE.
CLICK HERE for more information on the Ligier JS2 R
Photo credit : Ligier JS Cup France