Ligier JS Cup France: Third victory for Zosh Di Environnement in Nogaro
1 October 2021 - Fifth round of the Ligier JS Cup France at the Paul Armagnac circuit in Nogaro, with two races on the menu. The #10 Zosh Di Environnement Ligier JS2 R won the first race on Friday 1 October, followed by the #70 of LADC and the #15 of MB Performance. In the Am category, the #18 Orhès Sambms Athesi Bma crossed the finishing line first.
The Friday morning started with a two and a half hour free practice session. The #10 Zosh Di Environnement Ligier JS2 R driven by Jean-René Du Fournoux and Hugo Rosati led the Ligier JS2 R pack with its fastest lap of 1:33.719s. The #73 Orhès VS Compétition driven by Rémi, Axel and Didier Van Straaten finished first of the session in the Am class with a best lap of 1:35.187s.
The #6 No Limit Racing Ligier JS2 R with Nicolas Ciamin and Elie Dubelly at the wheel took its first pole position of the season with its fastest lap time in 1:32.696s. It was followed by the #10 of Zosh Di Environnement and the #73 of Orhès VS Compétition, first in the Am class.
The start of the four-hour race was given in the early afternoon. The #6 No Limit Racing Ligier JS2 R lost the lead to its sister car in the Am category, the #408 driven by Olivier Fernandez and Sébastien Margot. The latter was then overtaken by the #21 Orhès Fdp Solutions (Pro Am) driven by Benjamin Rivière and Philippe Sersot. On lap 16, it was passed by the #18 Orhès Sambms Athesi Bma (Am) driven by Franck Dallavalle, Rocco Spano and Micael Costa. At the end of the first hour, the Am category continued to lead the race with the #48 of LADC, driven by Yves Bandi and Martin Masse.
After holding the lead briefly, the #70 LADC Ligier JS2 R (Pro Am) with Thierry Petit and Grégory Servais was passed by the #18 Orhès Sambms Athesi Bma, which led the race for the entire second hour. Behind it at less than a second, the #6 of No Limit Racing was putting on pressure.
Although the #18 Ligier JS2 R lost the lead for several laps to different competitors, it came back to the forefront between laps 62 and 81. Despite attacks from its rivals, including the #10 of Zosh Di Environnement, it was once again the leader of the pack during the fourth hour and for 69 laps.
However, twenty laps before the chequered flag, the Pro Am category took over the lead of the race with the #10 Zosh Di Environnement Ligier JS2 R. The car took its third victory of the 2021 season in the Ligier JS Cup France. The Pro Am podium was completed by the #70 of LADC and the #15 of MB Performance driven by Natan Bihel and Romain Carton, who set the fastest lap in the race in 1:34.347s.
The #18 Orhès Sambms Athesi Ligier JS2 R finished fourth overall and first in the Am category. It was followed by the #48 of LADC and a second Orhès Racing car, the #39 driven by Jean Maurin and Franck Petit. No Limit Racing's #408 car set the fastest time of the class in 1:34.827s.
Pro Am podium:
1 - #10 Zosh - Di Environnement
2 - #70 LACD
3 - #15 MB Performance
Podium Am:
1 - #18 Orhès Sambms Athesi Bma
2 - #48 LADC
3 - #39 Orhès Stephya
For the report of the second race of the weekend at the Nogaro circuit, CLICK HERE.
Photo credit: Nicolas Delpierre