TC France: Fourth consecutive GT Light title for the Ligier JS2 R
The 2026 French FFSA Touring Car Championship season concluded on October 10-11 at Circuit Paul Ricard with another GT Light title for the Ligier JS2 R. At the wheel of the #5 Team CDRS Ligier JS2 R, Stéphane Codet claimed the crown after winning 13 of the 16 races he contested. Laurent Joubert, driving the J'Nov Auto Racing by JSB Ligier JS2 R, finished runner-up ahead of Romain Duqueine and the Duc Racing Ligier JS2 R. This championship sweep gave Ligier a fourth consecutive GT Light title, while Team CDRS secured its third consecutive Teams' crown.
Stéphane Codet takes the lead from Nogaro.
Runner-up in 2025 behind his teammate David Chiche, Stéphane Codet made his intentions clear from the opening round of the season at Nogaro, held from April 3 to 6 as part of the Coupes de Pâques de Nogaro.
At the wheel of the #5 Team CDRS Ligier JS2 R, he won three of the four races over the weekend and left the Gers region at the top of the championship standings. David Chiche completed a strong weekend for Team CDRS with victory in Race 3 in the #29 Team CDRS Ligier JS2 R.
Stéphane Codet and David Chiche then had to miss the second round, held from May 15 to 17 at Dijon-Prenois. Laurent Joubert in the #79 J'Nov Auto Racing by JSB Ligier JS2 R and Romain Duqueine in the #27 Duc Racing Ligier JS2 R took full advantage: the two Ligier drivers moved to the front and completely reopened the title fight.
Three wins at Spa to get back into title contention
Back on track from June 19 to 21 at Spa-Francorchamps, Stéphane Codet quickly reduced the gap.
After retiring following contact in the opening race, the driver of the #5 Team CDRS Ligier JS2 R went on to win the next three races. With six victories from eight starts since the beginning of the season, he moved to within just 11 points of championship leader Laurent Joubert in the #79 J'Nov Auto Racing by JSB Ligier JS2 R.
The Ligier JS2 Rs were once again at the forefront in Belgium. David Chiche won the first race, while Guillaume Huber scored several podium finishes in another Team CDRS car.
The #5 Team CDRS Ligier JS2 R retakes the championship lead at Magny-Cours.
The title battle swung during the fourth round of the season, held from July 30 to August 2 at Magny-Cours.
Arriving in the Nièvre region second in the standings, Stéphane Codet won three of the four races over the weekend and retook the championship lead. Romain Duqueine and Duc Racing denied the CDRS driver a clean sweep by winning the final race after a battle between the two Ligier JS2 Rs.
Ahead of the finale, however, Stéphane Codet held only a seven-point advantage over Laurent Joubert and 14 points over Romain Duqueine. With 50 points still available at Paul Ricard, all three Ligier drivers remained in contention for the crown.
Four wins and the title at Paul Ricard
Stéphane Codet ultimately ended his season in the best possible way by winning all four races of the finale at Circuit Paul Ricard, held from October 8 to 11.
Those four additional victories brought his season total to 13 wins from 16 starts and earned him his first GT Light title, one year after finishing runner-up.
Behind him, Laurent Joubert finished second in the championship with the J'Nov Auto Racing by JSB Ligier JS2 R. Romain Duqueine completed the podium with the Duc Racing Ligier JS2 R. The Ligier JS2 Rs therefore locked out the top three positions in the final 2026 standings.
Four consecutive titles for the Ligier JS2 R
Stéphane Codet and Team CDRS's title extends a winning streak that began with the creation of the GT Light category in the French FFSA Touring Car Championship in 2023.
That year, Ewen Hachez claimed the inaugural title with the Belt Racing by LVR Ligier JS2 R. In 2024, Nicco Ferrarin succeeded him with AGS Events after a season that included 13 victories. David Chiche and Team CDRS took over in 2025, before Stéphane Codet was crowned in 2026.
Since joining this multi-brand category, the Ligier JS2 R has therefore won all four GT Light titles awarded.
Team CDRS is also continuing its own streak. Teams' champion in 2024 despite Nicco Ferrarin winning the Drivers' title for AGS Events, the team retained its crown in 2025 and again in 2026, securing a third consecutive title.
With another title and an all-Ligier top three in the Drivers' standings, the Ligier JS2 R concludes another benchmark season in the French FFSA Touring Car Championship.
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Photo credit: TC France