Prototype Cup Germany: The Ligier JS P320 success story continues at the Nürburgring
15 - 17 July 2022 - After Spa-Francorchamps, the Prototype Cup Germany set up base at the Nürburgring. It was another successful weekend for the Ligier teams, with a pole position (Toksport WRT, Race 2), two victories (Reiter Engineering, Race 1 and Toksport WRT, Race 2), and two additional podium finishes (third place for Frikadelli Racing, Race 1 and third place for Reiter Engineering, Race 2) to the Ligier JS P320's tally, as well as the fastest lap in race 2.
The field of 11 LMP3 cars included six Ligier JS P320s, two of which were newcomers: the #30 of Frikadelli Racing (Klaus Abbelen and Felipe Fernández Laser), racing in the Michelin Le Mans Cup, and the Pegasus Racing #29 (Thibaut Ehrhart) from the Ultimate Cup Series. Freddie Hunt in the Reiter Engineering #24 car was another newcomer for this round. The son of James Hunt is a regular in the Michelin Le Mans Cup for the German team and was eager to have a go in the Prototype Cup Germany.
Race 1: Reiter Engineering wins and maiden podium for Frikadelli Racing
Race 1 of the weekend kicked off at 3.45 pm on Saturday, 16 July. The Toksport WRT #7 Ligier JS P320 (Berkay Besler and Marvin Dienst) jumped from third to first place. Behind, the Reiter Engineering #24 (Mads Siljehaug and Freddie Hunt) moved from fourth to third. Despite a yellow flag, the #7 held on to the lead. But with half an hour to go and as it entered the pits, the Toksport WRT car slid and hit the barrier. The damage was too extensive, and the team's race was over.
The Reiter Engineering #24 Ligier JS P320 was third when it made its mandatory pit stop. Mads Siljehaug handed over to Freddie Hunt, who came out of the pits with the lead. In sixth place, Felipe Fernández Laser in the Frikadelli Racing #30 made up positions. Determined to finish on the podium, he passed his rival for third place.
Reiter Engineering scored its first win in the Prototype Cup Series. In its debut in the championship, Frikadelli Racing finished third to make it a success for the German teams on home soil.
Race 2: Revenge for Toksport WRT, second podium for Reiter Engineering
On the morning of Sunday, 17 July, the Toksport WRT #7 Ligier JS P320 took its first pole position of the season, thanks to Marvin Dienst. The German driver set the fastest time with a lap of 1:20.055s.
Race 2 of the weekend started in the afternoon. At the start, the Toksport WRT Ligier JS P320 held onto the lead. Behind it, the Frikadelli Racing #30 moved from fifth to third. Reiter Engineering remained fourth. Ten minutes later, the #30 continued to make inroads and moved up to second behind the #7.
Halfway through the race, the Reiter Engineering car was among the first to enter the pits to make its mandatory stop. It quickly regained fourth place. Meanwhile, the #7 also came in, allowing the Frikadelli Racing #30 to take the lead. But thanks to its advantage, the Toksport WRT LMP3 was just three-hundredths of the #30, overtaking it without difficulty before pulling away. Frikadelli Racing lost another two places and was now fifth.
After a disappointing race the day before, the #7 Toksport WRT Ligier JS P320 crew won for the third time this season, maintaining their lead in the championship. The #7 also set the fastest lap of the race in 1:21.950s. The Reiter Engineering #24 Ligier JS P320 was third and left the Nürburgring with two podium results.
Round three of the Prototype Cup Germany will be held at the Lausitzring in Germany from 19 to 21 August.
For the race 1 results, CLICK HERE.
For the race 2 results, CLICK HERE.
For more information about the Ligier JS P320, CLICK HERE.