Michelin Le Mans Cup: Second place for 23Events Racing in Barcelona
The 11th Michelin Le Mans Cup season got underway on April 11, 2026 at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya with a first podium for the Ligier JS P325. At the end of a spectacular finish, the #50 23Events Racing Ligier JS P325, driven by American Colin Queen and Italian Giovanni Maschio, secured second place.
Ligier's LMP3 prototype also claimed the fastest race lap thanks to Colin Queen, who posted a 1:38.643.
29 Ligier JS P325s on the grid for the season opener
Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya hosted the opening round of the 2026 Michelin Le Mans Cup. For this 11th season, 29 Ligier JS P325s were entered by 19 teams. Among them, ten competed in the Pro-Am class, which brings together crews made up of FIA Silver- and Bronze-rated drivers.
On the 4.657-kilometer Catalan circuit, the competition looked particularly strong for this first event of the year.
Brutal Fish Campos Racing at the sharp end in free practice
From the first free practice session, the #12 Brutal Fish Campos Racing Ligier JS P325 stood out. For its LMP3 debut, the Spanish team set the second-fastest time of the session thanks to Arthur Rogeon, who completed a lap in 1:37.983.
The Ligier JS P325s were well represented at the top of the order, with eight cars in the top 10. They also recorded the highest top speeds of the session, with a benchmark of 266.7 km/h for the #15 Vector Sport RLR Ligier JS P325.
In Pro-Am, Gillian Henrion stood out at the wheel of the #98 Motorsport98 Ligier JS P325, with a best lap of 1:38.430.
In the second free practice session, the #19 Brutal Fish Campos Racing Ligier JS P325, driven by Matus Ryba, posted the second-fastest time in 1:39.962. At the wheel of the #66 Rinaldi Racing Ligier JS P325, Mikkel Gaarde Pedersen set the fastest Pro-Am lap in 1:38.788.
The Brutal Fish Campos Racing Ligier JS P325s on the second row
In qualifying, Arthur Rogeon set the first benchmark time in 1:37.518 at the wheel of the #12 Brutal Fish Campos Racing Ligier JS P325. His teammate Matus Ryba, driving the #19, then took provisional pole position away from him.
Rogeon improved to 1:36.918 and temporarily returned to the top of the timesheets before being beaten by the competition late in the session. The two Brutal Fish Campos Racing Ligier JS P325s, the #19 and the #12, ultimately started from the second row of the grid.
In Pro-Am, Alexander Bukhantsov claimed pole position in 1:39.209 at the wheel of the #34 Inter Europol Competition Ligier JS P325. Stefan Aust joined him on the class front row with the #71 Rinaldi Racing Ligier JS P325.
A chaotic start in Barcelona
The start of the first race of the season was eventful. Several cars ended up in the gravel in the opening corners. The #12 Brutal Fish Campos Racing Ligier JS P325 was among the victims at Turn 2.
A few seconds after the restart, the Safety Car was deployed again following an incident involving two GT3s and three LMP3s. The #15 Vector Sport RLR Ligier JS P325 was stranded in the gravel trap. The #49 High Class Racing Ligier JS P325 suffered the same fate after being hit by a GT3.
After 45 minutes of racing, the field was finally able to resume at full pace.
An intense battle for the podium
The fight for the top positions quickly heated up in LMP3. The #29 Forestier Racing by VPS Ligier JS P325, driven by Luciano Morano, and the #19 Brutal Fish Campos Racing Ligier JS P325, in the hands of Matus Ryba, fought an intense duel for third place for more than an hour.
But with 12 minutes remaining, Colin Queen appeared in the #50 23Events Racing Ligier JS P325. The American passed the #29 Forestier Racing by VPS and then the #19 Brutal Fish Campos Racing Ligier JS P325 in quick succession to move into third place.
He did not stop there. He kept pushing and gained one more position to move up to second.
23Events Racing secures second place.
The #50 23Events Racing Ligier JS P325, shared by Colin Queen and Giovanni Maschio, ultimately finished second in the opening race of the 2026 Michelin Le Mans Cup season.
Colin Queen also left Barcelona with the fastest race lap, set in 1:38.643. It was a performance that confirmed the potential of the Ligier JS P325 in a particularly competitive field.
Behind them, the #19 Brutal Fish Campos Racing Ligier JS P325, driven by Matus Ryba and Fluxa Cross, finished fourth. The #29 Forestier Racing by VPS Ligier JS P325, entrusted to Luciano Morano and Meyhuras, completed the top five.
Bretton Racing wins in Pro-Am with the Ligier JS P325.
In Pro-Am, the race was also highly contested. The #34 Inter Europol Competition, #66 Rinaldi Racing and #62 Bretton Racing Ligier JS P325s each led the class at different stages.
Victory ultimately went to the #62 Bretton Racing Ligier JS P325, driven by Poland's Jacek Zielonka and Algeria's Léo Sami Robinson.
The second round of the 2026 Michelin Le Mans Cup will take place at Le Castellet, France, on May 2.
To learn more about the Michelin Le Mans Cup, CLICK HERE.
To learn more about the Ligier JS P325, CLICK HERE.
Photo credit: DPPI