Ligier JS Cup France: the #93 ZOSH – J4R Ligier JS2 R wins the first race of the 2024 season.
It was on the Bugatti circuit in Le Mans, as in previous years, that the sixth season of the Ligier JS Cup France, the series reserved for Ligier JS2 Rs, got underway on 29 and 30 March 2024. For this first meeting, 31 Ligier JS2 Rs were present. And it was the ZOSH - J4R team which mastered the tricky conditions of a drying track to claim the first victory of the season in the Elite category with its #93 driven by Jean-René Defournoux and Julien Rodrigues. In the Gentleman category, the #63 SPEBOFF BY M3 finished first thanks to its trio of Stéphane Adler, Sylvain Caroff and Vincent Roches. This first race also marked the launch of the Ligier Junior Programme within the Ligier JS Cup France. Young Nicco Ferrarin won the Junior classification in the #89 AGS EVENTS Ligier JS2 R.
- After three hours of private testing and one hour of free practice on Friday 29 March, it was time for the thirty-minute qualifying session on Saturday 30 March from 8.30am to 9am.
- In the Elite category, the #83 of TRAJECTUS claimed the first pole position of the season with a best time of 1:58.815.
- The #89 AGS EVENTS Ligier JS2 R was fastest in the Gentleman category with a time of 02:00.731.
- The six-hour race got underway straight away with a 9.30am start on a dry track.
The #93 ZOSH - J4R Ligier JS2 R wins the Elite category.
- Starting from twentieth on the grid, the #93 ZOSH - J4R Ligier JS2 R won its first race in the Elite category, formerly known as Pro-AM. Thanks to a clever strategy during the neutralisations and the talent of the Jean-René Defournoux / Julien Rodrigues duo, the #93 made a fine comeback.
- The 2023 title holder, the #9 Ligier JS2 R of ORHES - MATIMMO - COMEBACK took second place after an impressive fight back by the trio of Olivier Pernaut, Emeric Merzougui and junior Thomas Martinez, who started from 21st place.
- ULTIMATE's #35, in second place on the grid with the Heriau brothers, François and Gilles, accompanied by Raphael Jallageas, completed the top 3 in the category.
SPEBOFF BY M3, first winner of the Gentleman category with its #63 Ligier JS2 R
- Positioned 23rd on the grid, the #63 SPEBOFF BY M3 team, which finished runner-up in 2023, is starting the 2024 season under the best of auspices. The trio of Stéphane Adler, Sylvain Caroff and Vincent Roches won this first race in style.
- Newcomer to the category, the #22 ZOSH 22 with the duo of Guillaume Brichard and junior Maximillien Menu, is already making a name for itself with second place.
- On the third step of the podium were other newcomers, drivers Robin Burgy, Antoine Delomez and junior Thomas Pompidou at the wheel of the #27 XP RACING.
Nicco Ferrari in the #89 AGS EVENTS car won the Junior standings.
- This first race of season 6 of the championship also marked the launch of the Ligier Junior Programme within the Ligier JS Cup France. This programme gives young talent access to the highest level of endurance racing thanks to a unique prize system (see below for more information).
- A total of 13 drivers are taking part in the Junior ranking and are in the running to win the prize money and move on to the next stage in the Ligier European Series in 2025.
- The Juniors battled it out in a race within the race for the first forty minutes, at the end of which the standings are established.
- It was Vincent Bouteiller in the #83 TRAJECTUS Ligier who claimed the first pole position of the season.
- Nicco Ferrarin won the first race in tricky track conditions in the #89 AGS EVENTS. Jules Treluyer finished second in the #84 TRAJECTUS after starting from the second row. Thomas Pompidou in the #27 XP RACING car took third place.
The next Ligier JS Cup France race will take place on Saturday April 13 at the Dijon circuit.
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 classification in the Ligier JS Cup France and the Ligier Junior Programme in this championship, CLICK HERE.
For the full results, CLICK HERE.
For more information on the Ligier JS Cup France, CLICK HERE.
For more information on the Ligier European Series, CLICK HERE.
Discover the Ligier JS2 R, CLICK HERE.