Ultimate Cup Series: Nothing stops the #88 Team Virage Ligier JS P320!
September 12, 2021 - Round four of the Ultimate Cup Series, fourth pole position and fourth win for Team Virage's #88 Ligier JS P320, which also set the fastest lap in the race. The team wrapped up the weekend with a double podium finish, with the #77 taking silver for the first time this season.
It's a perfect weekend for Team Virage. On qualifying day, Saturday 11 September, the #88 Ligier JS P320 driven by Miguel Cristovao, Mathis Poulet and Julian Wagg dominated the three sessions by setting the best times (1:32.135s; 1:31.376s and 1:29.644s). Without any surprise, it won its fourth pole position in a row.
The first two rows of the grid were occupied by the Ligier JS P320s: the #13 Mirage Racing car with Emilien Carde and Philippe Cimadomo in second place, followed by the #77 Team Virage car with Alessandro Bracalente and Rob Hodes, and the #27 24-7 Motorsport car with Andrew and Jeremy Ferguson and Louis Hamilton-Smith.
The start was given early on Sunday morning. In the first hour of the race, the #88 Team Virage Ligier JS P320 fought hard to hold onto first place. At the end of the second hour, it fell to fifth place. Its rival, the #13 Mirage Racing car, took the lead for ten laps before the second Team Virage car, the #77, overtook it. The #88 Ligier JS P320 moved up the order and a battle began between the team's two Ligiers. After swapping positions multiple times, the #88 finally took the win, its fourth in a row. Julian Wagg also set the fastest lap of the race in 1:31.139s. For the first time since the start of the championship, the #77 crossed the finishing line in second place. The #13 Mirage Racing car finished fourth and the #27 24-7 Motorsport car fifth in the LMP3 class and tenth overall.
The #88 Team Virage Ligier JS P320 has been leading the championship since the opening round of the Ultimate Cup Series and looks set to take the title.
The Ultimate Cup Series' teams will meet again on 15-17 October at Magny-Cours for the penultimate round of the series.
Photo credit: Arthur Chopin - Drive Your Com