Ligier JS Cup France: The MB Performance and ARC22 – ZOSH Ligier JS2 Rs clinch victories at Spa-Francorchamps!

8 May 2021 – After two meetings postponed due to the health crisis the third season of the Ligier JS Cup France kicked off on the Spa-Francorchamps circuit in Belgium on 8 May with no fewer than 24 Ligier JS2 Rs lining up on the grid. This premier in Belgium ended in victory in Pro-Am for the #15 Ligier JS2 R run by MB Performance. In the Am category the win went to the #22 Ligier JS2 R entered by Arc22 – ZOSH.

It was a long wait. After the postponement of the first round at Le Mans followed by that of Dijon in April, the 2021 Ligier JS Cup France finally got under way on Saturday 8 May in Belgium on the iconic Spa-Francorchamps circuit on which 24 Ligier JS2 Rs did battle in overcast weather conditions.

Saturday 8 May – After one-hour's free practice it was time for the 30-minute qualifying session. And the #22 Arc22 – ZOSH Ligier JS2 R driven by Paul Corduan, Laurent Dub and Clément Dub clinched pole with a fastest lap in 2:31.460. In the Pro-Am category, the #10 Ligier JS2 R entered by ZOSH – Di Environnement in the hands of Jean-René Defournoux and Hugo Rosati topped the time sheets with a best lap in 2:31.723.

The start of the 4-hour race was given at 11:15. It was a pretty frenetic getaway as the #22 Ligier JS2 R was harpooned by another car. #408 run by Not Limit Racing was soon afterwards tagged and had to retire.

At the end of the first hour's racing, the #6 No Limit Racing Ligier JS2 R driven by Elie Dubelly, Nicolas Ciamin and Julien Rodrigues was in the lead followed by #15 entered by MB Performance for Romain Carton and Natan Bihel, who made a great start moving up from seventh to second place. In third was #70 entered by LADC Motorsport for Thierry Petit and Grégory Servais.

Around the halfway mark, the #4 Orhès Stephya BMA Ligier JS2 R in the hands of Olivier Pernaut and Mathieu Martins had to retire when it was among the front-runners.

The battle for victory was in full swing! MB Performance's #15, #10 run by ZOSH – Di Environnement, #6 in the No Limit Racing colours, the Arc22 – ZOSH #22 and LADC Motorsport's #70 were all squabbling over first place as refuelling stops reshuffled the order.

Even though the #10 ZOSH – Di Environnement Ligier JS2 R crossed the finishing line in first place as well as setting the fastest lap in the race in a time of 2:33.702, it was handed a penalty for not respecting the mandatory pit stop time, which dropped it back to eighth place overall.   Thus, the #15 MB Performance Ligier JS2 R that finished second inherited victory, its second of the season. The Pro-Am podium was completed by #70 run by LADC Motorsport in second place with #6 entered by No Limit Racing in third.

The #22 Arc22 – ZOSH Ligier JS2 R that finished second overall came out on top in the Am category followed in second place by the Orhès VS Compétition Ligier JS2 R #73 driven by Rémi and Axel Van Straaten. Filling the third step on the podium was the #3 ZOSH – GDI Ligier JS2 R crewed by Rodolphe and Claude Rosati.

The next round of the Ligier JS Cup France will be held on the Magny-Cours circuit on 28 – 29 May.

To consult the complete results, CLICK HERE.