Ultimate Cup Series, Mugello: first 2024 victory for RLR MSport
For the fourth meeting of the 2024 season, the Ultimate Cup Series visited the Mugello circuit in Italy from September 5 to 8, 2024. At the wheel of RLR MSport's #15 Ligier JS P320, Wyatt Brichacek, James Dayson and Chris Short put an end to the winning streak of Team Virage, winners of the first three rounds. The Polish team nevertheless took the other LMP3 podium places with its #88 and #1 Ligier JS P320s.
Eleven Ligiers were on track at Mugello in the LMP3 category of the European Endurance Prototype Cup. Eight Ligier JS P320s featured in the LMP3 top ten from free practice, led by the #34 of Inter Europol Competition.
Qualifying followed by the four-hour race took place on Sunday. At the end of qualifying, the #34 Ligier JS P320 confirmed its performance with pole position for Kai Askey, Alexander Bukhantsov, and Pedro Perino. In 1:43.935, they beat the two Team Virage cars, #88 and #11, in LMP3. Eurointernational's #11 and Bretton Racing's #69 completed the top 5.
Already threatening, the rain finally arrived at Mugello. Qualifying sixth in the LMP3 class, the #87 Ligier JS P320 of Adrien Closmenil, David Droux and Quentin Joseph (COOL Racing) proved to be at its best in the wet and established itself at the top of the class. But half an hour into the race, intensifying rain and strong winds brought out a long red flag.
With 1h20 to go, the race resumed. Team Virage looked to be continuing its domination. After two victories for the #1 of Alex Gnos, Georgios Kolovos and Sacha Lehmann in Portimão and Hockenheim, the #88 of Daniel Macia, Raphaël Narac and Jacek Zielonka, which had won the opening round of the season at Le Castellet, was on course for victory. However, Daniel Macia made contact in traffic and lost out on victory to the #15 RLR MSport Ligier JS P320, driven by Wyatt Brichacek, James Dayson and Chris Short.
Team Virage nevertheless scored a double podium finish, with the #88 finishing second and the #1 third. Inter Europol Competition's #34 Ligier started from pole position and ended fourth.
The fifth round of the 2024 Ultimate Cup Series season will take place from October 12 to 15 on the Magny-Cours circuit.
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Photo credit: UCS / Davy Delien