Under cloudy skies and on a still-cool track, the 23 cars entered for the Silverstone Heat delivered an action-packed opening race at Silverstone on Saturday, 12 September.
After an hour of intense competition, Ethan Pharamond and Mika Abrahams claimed their third victory of the season in the #6 ANS Motorsport Ligier JS P4. In the Ligier JS2 R category, Daniel Dallakyan and Antonin Bernard triumphed in the #41 VSF Sports car. With their fifth victory of 2026, the duo sealed the championship title in the opening race of the Silverstone Heat.
Ligier JS P4: Third victory of the season for ANS Motorsport
From the start, August Therbo in the #57 M Racing Ligier JS P4 and Mika Abrahams at the wheel of the #6 ANS Motorsport Ligier JS P4 went on the attack. The Danish driver quickly moved into the lead, while Tomas Pompidou made an excellent getaway in the #19 Trajectus Motorsport Ligier JS P4, climbing from fifth to second.
On lap four, Simone Riccitelli joined the battle in the #7 LR Motorsport Ligier JS P4 and wrested the lead from August Therbo, who was then followed by Brandon McCaughan in the #1 Team Virage Ligier JS P4. However, the Italian driver received a ten-second penalty, to be served during his pit stop, for failing to start from the correct grid position. He responded by increasing the pace in an effort to build a sufficient advantage.
Following the mandatory pit stops, the #7 LR Motorsport Ligier JS P4, now driven by Pietro Ferri, rejoined in the lead ahead of Vincent Bouteiller in the #19 Trajectus Motorsport Ligier JS P4 and Ethan Pharamond in the #6 ANS Motorsport Ligier JS P4. Pharamond then piled on the pressure before taking the lead following contact between Pietro Ferri and Marcus Terkildsen in the #88 23Events Racing Ligier JS2 R.
Despite coming under attack from his pursuers, Ethan Pharamond held firm until the chequered flag to secure ANS Motorsport’s third victory of the season. The result also allowed the team to regain the lead in the provisional championship standings. August Therbo crossed the finish line second in the #57 M Racing Ligier JS P4, in front of Tomas Pompidou and Vincent Bouteiller for Trajectus Motorsport in the #19.
The #57 M Racing Ligier JS P4 was handed a post-race penalty for overtaking before crossing the start line. It was consequently demoted to third place, promoting the #19 Trajectus crew to second.
In the PRO-AM classification, Marius Kristiansen and Dominique Bastien took the win in the #69 Bretton Racing Ligier JS P4. AM honours went to Emil Hellberg at the wheel of the #48 Allay Racing Ligier JS P4.
Ligier JS P4 overall podium: August Therbo (#57 M Racing) (left) (before receiving a penatlty and moving to third place), Mika Abrahams / Ethan Pharamond (#6 ANS Motorsport) (center), Vincent Bouteiller / Tomas Pompidou (#19 Trajectus Motorsport) (right) (before being promoted to second place)
Ligier JS P4 PRO-AM winners: Marius Kristiansen / Dominique Bastien (#69 Bretton Racing)
Mika Abrahams, ANS Motorsport, Ligier JS P4 #6, Winner of Race 1:
“Knowing that we are fighting for the championship, We just wanted to keep clean, stay out of trouble. I just got a good start and wanted to capitalize all of that. It was so chaotic and the tryres were cold in lap 1 that I didn’t really fight anyone around me too much. Just wanted to bring a good car to Ethan so he could fight for the win. We fought back up to third and I did exactly what I wanted to do. Ethan was able to finish the race how we wanted to.”
Ethan Pharamond, ANS Motorsport, Ligier JS P4 #6, Winner of Race 1:
“After the pit stop, I overtook some drivers and then managed to stay P1 until the chequered flag.”
Ligier JS2 R: VSF Sports and the #41 crowned champions
Starting from pole position in the #81 LR Motorsport Ligier JS2 R, Simone Bianco retained the lead at the start. On lap four, however, Antonin Bernard went on the attack in the #41 VSF Sports Ligier JS2 R and moved into first place. Marcus Terkildsen ran third in the #88 23Events Racing Ligier JS2 R.
Following the mandatory pit stops, Daniel Dallakyan took over from Antonin Bernard in the #41 VSF Sports Ligier JS2 R. Still leading, he gradually extended his advantage and crossed the finish line ahead of Simone Bianco in the #81 LR Motorsport Ligier JS2 R. Marcus Terkildsen completed the podium for 23Events Racing in the #88.
With their fifth victory of the season, Daniel Dallakyan, Antonin Bernard and VSF Sports increased their tally to 155 points. They now hold a 75-point advantage over their closest rival, Simone Bianco, who has claimed one victory this year in the #81 LR Motorsport Ligier JS2 R. That lead was enough for the #41 crew to seal the Ligier JS2 R title in Race 1 of the Silverstone Heat.
In PRO-AM, Maxime Aparicio and Anthony Ghibaudo took the class victory in the #18 VSF Sports Ligier JS2 R.
Ligier JS2 R overall podium: Simone Bianco (#81 LR Motorsport) (left), Daniel Dallakyan / Antonin Bernard (#41 VSF Sports) (center), Marcus Terkildsen (#88 23Events Racing) (right).
Ligier JS2 R PRO-AM winners: Maxime Aparicio / Anthony Ghibaudo (#18 VSF Sports)
Antonin Bernard, VSF Sports, Ligier JS2 R #41, Winner of Race 1 in JS2 R:
“I started in third position. I felt really great with the car. The track was still quite cold. I overtook Marcus [Terkildsen in the #88 23Events Racing JS2 R] first. I did the same with Simone [Bianco in the #81 LR Motorsport JS2 R]. Then I just had to manage the gap/ I felt really comfortable with the car.”
Daniel Dallakyan, VSF Sports, Ligier JS2 R #41, Winner of Race 1 in JS2 R:
“Antonin did a really great job in his stint, giving me the car in first position. All I needed to do was finish the job. Thanks to the team. They did a really good job. I managed to push until the end.”
Race 2 will get under way at 1.45pm local time and will run for one hour. It will be broadcast live on the Ligier European Series YouTube channel.
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CLICK HERE to watch Race 2 live
Photo credit: DPPI
