Michelin Le Mans Cup, Spa: Podiums in LMP3 and LMP3 PRO/AM for the Ligier JS P325
On August 22 and 23, the Michelin Le Mans Cup stopped at Spa-Francorchamps for its fourth round of the 2025 season. After a hard-fought race, the Ligier JS P325s left with two podium finishes in LMP3 and a sweep in LMP3 PRO/AM. In LMP3, the #92 Forestier Racing by VPS (Luciano Morano/Charles Roussanne) finished second, followed by the #16 Team Virage (Theo Micouris/Sebastian Gravlund). In PRO/AM, Motorsport98 won with the #98 (Gillian Henrion/Eric de Doncker) ahead of the #66 Rinaldi Racing (Steve Parrow/Griffin Peebles) and the #34 Inter Europol Competition (Timothy Creswick/Bijoy Garg).
Free Practice: The Ligier JS P325s up front
The first free practice session was dominated by Theo Micouris (#16 Team Virage), 2024 JS P4 Champion in the Ligier European Series. In PRO/AM, championship leader Felipe Fernandez-Laser (#71 Rinaldi Racing) set the fastest lap in 2:12.795. The session was interrupted six minutes before the end after the #27 P4 Racing went off track.
During the second session, the #66 Rinaldi Racing Ligier JS P325, entered in the PRO/AM category, set the benchmark time with Griffin Peebles (2:12.192), ahead of the #50 23Events Racing (2:12.323) and the #97 CLX Motorsport (2:12.716). The session was disrupted by two red flags and a Full Course Yellow.
Qualifying: Pole in PRO/AM for ANS Motorsport
On Saturday, under heavy rain, qualifying took place on a very tricky track. The Ligier JS P325 #84 ANS Motorsport, driven by Julien Lemoine, claimed its second pole of the season in PRO/AM with a lap of 2:30.799, relegating its rivals by more than four seconds.
Forestier Racing by VPS and Team Virage on the LMP3 podium
The race began on Saturday, August 23. From the start, an incident at Les Combes caused a first ten-minute neutralization. Shortly after, the Safety Car was back for another off-track. At the same time, the #84 ANS Motorsport Ligier JS P325, which had started from pole, went off at Eau Rouge and dropped to 11th.
On the restart, the Ligier JS P325 #92 and #29 of Forestier Racing by VPS took the advantage. Behind them, Theo Micouris (#16 Team Virage) put pressure on Louis Rousset (#29 Forestier). Debris at Raidillon led to a six-minute Full Course Yellow before racing resumed until the checkered flag.
Result: the #92 Forestier Racing by VPS Ligier JS P325, driven by Luciano Morano and Charles Roussanne, finished second behind the day's winner, and the #16 Team Virage Ligier JS P325, with Theo Micouris and Sebastian Gravlund, completed the podium.
Victorious comeback for Motorsport98 in LMP3 PRO/AM
The PRO/AM category offered a thrilling scenario. The #77 Reiter Engineering Ligier JS P325, with Horst Felbermayr, led the race but was chased down by two competitors. Further back in the field, Gillian Henrion, at the wheel of the #98 Motorsport98 Ligier JS P325, fought back strongly. With a superb charge, the Frenchman climbed to third before taking second with 23 minutes to go.
Despite serving a five-second penalty during his next stop, Henrion continued his push and overtook the #77 on the Kemmel straight with just 15 minutes left. With more than ten seconds' advantage over his rivals, he secured the PRO/AM victory for Motorsport98 and teammate Eric de Doncker, a home win for the Belgian team. Behind them, the #66 Rinaldi Racing (Steve Parrow/Griffin Peebles) finished second and the #34 Inter Europol Competition (Timothy Creswick/Bijoy Garg) completed a 100% Ligier podium.
Standings: The Ligier teams at the top
With two rounds to go, the #87 CLX Motorsport Ligier JS P325 is now second with 47 points, just two points ahead of its sister car, the #97. In LMP3, the #92 Forestier Racing by VPS and the #16 Team Virage are tied for fourth and fifth with 44 points. The #50 23Events follows closely with 43 points. Two other Ligiers are only a few points behind and still fully in the fight for the championship title: the #29 Forestier Racing by VPS and the #25 Reiter Engineering.
In LMP3 PRO/AM, the #71 Rinaldi Racing Ligier JS P325 holds the lead with 63 points. Right behind, the #98 Motorsport98 is now second with 59 points thanks to its Belgian victory. Three other Ligier teams follow: the #66 Rinaldi Racing (49 points), the #84 ANS Motorsport (40 points), and the #34 Inter Europol Competition (28 points).
The next Michelin Le Mans Cup race is scheduled for September 13 at Silverstone.
CLICK HERE for the full race results
CLICK HERE for the LMP3 PRO/AM winners' reactions
CLICK HERE for more information on the Ligier JS P325, the third generation of Ligier LMP3.
DISCOVER HERE the anniversary limited edition, the Ligier JS P3X, celebrating 10 years of LMP3 with Ligier Automotive.
To have more information on the Michelin Le Mans Cup, CLICK HERE.
Photo credit: DPPI