Ultimate Cup Series, Portimão : Victory for Team Virage with the #1 Ligier JS P320
The second round of the 2024 Ultimate Cup Series season took place from 23 to 26 May 2024 at the Portimão circuit. It was the series' first visit to the circuit located in Portugal's Algarve region. Nine Ligier JS P320s took part in the 6-hour race, which came down to the final hour. Team Virage, the defending champions, won this second round with their #1 Ligier JS P320 driven by Georgios Kolovos, Sacha Lehmann and Axel Gnos.
The weekend got off to a good start for the Ligier JS P320s, with the #26 of Bretton Racing taking pole position. Bernardo Pinheiro, Marius Fossard and Manuel Esperito Santo posted the best average time of the three qualifying sessions in 1:39. 214 and claimed their first pole position of the season. Team Virage's #1 and #88 Ligier JS P320s were second and third on the grid in the LMP3 class.
Sunday 26 May saw the second round of the European Endurance Prototype, with six hours of racing on the Portuguese circuit, renowned for its many changes in gradient. Thanks to a well-executed strategy, Team Virage won the overall standings for the first time this season with the Ligier JS P320 #1 driven by Georgios Kolovos, Sacha Lehmann and Axel Gnos. Following the success of the #88 JS P320 (Jacek Zielonka, Raphael Narac, Daniel Macia) in the LMP3 class at the Circuit Paul Ricard, the #1 Ligier JS P320 scored a double victory in the LMP3 class and in the overall standings, one lap clear of its closest rivals.
In the LMP3 category, Inter Europol Competition's #34 Ligier JS P320, in the hands of Alexander Bukhantsov, Niels Koolen and local hero Pedro Perino, finished third thanks to a fine recovery by the Portuguese driver in the final half-hour. This was the Polish team's second consecutive podium finish in the European Endurance Prototype Cup.
The #26 Bretton Competition Ligier JS P320 started from pole position and finished fifth in the LMP3 class.
Marius Fossard and Bernardo Pinheiro put in a solid first stint and finished in the top three. Manuel Esperito Santo then took the wheel and maintained a solid pace. After spending a long time in third place, the Portuguese driver had to pit to refuel in the final minutes of the race and saw his podium finish slip away.
The next round of the Ultimate Cup Series will take place in Germany at Hockenheim from July 4 to 7.
For more information on the Ligier JS P320, CLICK HERE.
For full results, please CLICK HERE.
For more information on the championship, CLICK HERE.
Photo credit: alex_picadventure / UCS Portimao 2024