PCR Sport and its Ligier JS2 Rs put on stunning performances in the Spanish Endurance Championship opener
26 – 27 March 2022 – The Spanish Endurance Championship has got off to a flying start for the Ligier JS2 R. The French constructor's GT set a searing pace in the opening round of the season on the Ricardo Tormo circuit in Valencia. In the GPR category, the two GTs entered by PCR Sport (#103 and #115) were fastest in the two free practices and qualifying sessions and gave the team two doubles in the weekend's two races. In addition, the Ligier JS2 Rs finished both races in the top 10 in the overall classification!
The opening round of the 2022 Spanish Endurance Championship (CER) kicked off on Saturday 26th March in Valencia in rainy weather. Despite the tricky conditions with a still wet track, the two Ligier JS2 Rs run by Spanish team PCR Sport topped the time sheets in the first free practice session in the GPR category led by #103 driven by Francesc Gutiérrez and Juan Andujar (1:53.999s) followed by #115 in the hands of Alba Cano and Fernando Gonzales. It was the same story in the second free session as #103 again set the fastest lap in its category in a time of 1:55.933s.
Both Ligier JS2 Rs in the top 10 overall classification
On Sunday 27th March, the #103 Ligier JS2 R driven by Francesc Gutiérrez clinched pole position in the GPR category with the fastest lap in 1:49.663s. The start of the first race was given in the early afternoon. The #103 Ligier JS2 R held on to first place in its category battling against Porsche 911 Cups and Ferrari 458 Challenges, which it passed at the end of the first stint. It scored victory in its category and saw the flag in seventh place overall (out of a total of 22 cars) followed a lap later by its sister car #115 that finished second in the GPR category and eighth overall.
In the second race, the #115 Ligier JS2 R started on pole in its category and just when it was battling for victory it was overtaken by #103 four laps before the chequered flag was waved. For the second time during the weekend the crew in #103 comprising Francesc Gutiérrez and Juan Andujar climbed onto the topmost step of the podium and set the weekend's quickest lap overall in the GPR category in 1:42.068s while #115 took the chequered flag in second place.
“I really had great fun and I was able to take the fight to cars that were in higher categories. The Ligier JS2 R and the whole PCR Sport team were sensational. The car was very quick and easy to drive. We're leaving Valencia with two victories and that's very important for the championship,” said Francesc Gutiérrez, driver of the #103 Ligier JS2 R.
“Both my teammate and I experienced a very positive weekend, achieving two P2 finishes. I am very pleased with my adjustment to the car as it was my first time driving it. I was fortunate to drive in wet conditions in free testing and on a dry track in both races which gave me the opportunity to test the Ligier JS2 R in both conditions. I was very satisfied with the functioning of the car as it has a high corner speed and it allows late breaking points. We were in the fight with GTs that had greater power than us which built our confidence with the car. I can't wait to drive the Ligier JS2 R again.”, added Alba Cano, who drove the #115 Ligier JS2 R.
The Ligier JS2 R will attack the second round of the CER on 30th April – 1st May on the Portimao circuit in Portugal.
To see the full results of the weekend CLICK HERE.
Photo credit: Carlos Casimiro