One race win is good. But two race wins are better. The #16 Team Virage Ligier JS P4 and rookie driver Gillian Henrion doubled up and put in the fastest lap at Circuit Paul Ricard. In the Ligier JS2 R category, the returning CTF Performance team claimed its first-ever victory with the #95 of Nicolas Béraud.
The #16 Team Virage Ligier JS P4 is a serious contender
At the start of race two in the Ligier JS P4 category, the #16 of Team Virage with Gillian Henrion and the #23 of Monza Garage driven by George King were in a battle. Behind them, Natan Bihel in the #53 M Racing car was lying in wait. Starting further back in the field, the #3 of LR Motorsport with Nicola Neri at the controls took advantage of a restart to pass the #17 of Pegasus Racing driven by Anthony Nahra. As the young French driver tried to overtake his Italian rival, he lost control of his Ligier JS P4 and spun.
After the pit stop cycle, the #33 Les Deux Arbres, driven by Jacques Nicolet, led the race among the sport-prototypes. But his lead was short-lived, as Gillian Henrion (#16) retook command of the race. Soon after, the #23 Monza Garage car, driven by Ronnie Valori, overtook the Les Deux Arbres car.
With 20 minutes to go before the chequered flag, the gaps between the Ligier JS P4s were narrow. Determined to exact revenge after a frustrating race one, Natan Bihel in the #53 M Racing entry climbed up to third place. The #33 received a drive-through penalty for crossing the white line at the pit exit.
Settling for third place was not in the plans of the #53 M Racing Ligier JS P4. On the second restart of the race, Natan Bihel took the opportunity to pass the #23 Monza Garage car. The #3 LR Motorsport machine got past the #23 and then the #53 but later dropped back to fourth place following a drive-through penalty.
For the second time on the same day, rookie Gillian Henrion triumphed in the #16 Team Virage Ligier JS P4 and the fastest lap of the race in 2:00.019s. Natan Bihel (#53 M Racing), who was a regular podium finisher last season in the JS2 R category, finished runner-up and scored his first podium in the JS P4 category. As in race one, the #23 of Monza Garage took the chequers in third place.
For the second time on the same day, rookie Gillian Henrion triumphed in the #16 Team Virage Ligier JS P4 and the fastest lap of the race in 2:00.019s. Natan Bihel (#53 M Racing), who was a regular podium finisher last season in the JS2 R category, finished runner-up and scored his first podium in the JS P4 category. As in race one, the #23 of Monza Garage took the chequers in third place.
The #95 CTF Performance Ligier JS2 R on the top step of the podium
In the Ligier JS2 R category, Haytam Qarajouli in the #75 RLR MSport Ligier JS2 R put in another impressive start. Behind him, it was the #95 CTF Performance car with Nicolas Beraud and the #4 COOL Racing car driven by Cédric Oltramare. At the ten-minute mark of the race, the #96 of CTF Performance driven by Laurent Piguet provoked the outing of the safety car. The GT machine stopped on track but did manage to return before retiring soon afterwards. After the safety car period, the #69 of M Racing, with Laurent Millara onboard, chased down the #4 of COOL Racing to take third place. And one thing was evident, Laurent Millara’s fierce defence gave Cédric Oltramare a hard time.
Following the mandatory pit stop, the #95 CTF Performance Ligier JS2 R took the lead from the #75 RLR MSport, which dropped to third place behind the #69 M Racing. But race one winner, Haytham Qarajouli, had other ideas. With ten minutes remaining, he overtook the #69 for second place. A few minutes later, the #4 COOL Racing car went on the offensive and overtook Laurent Millara. But the Swiss team’s bad luck continued. Sixty seconds before the chequered flag, the #4 car stopped on the pit straight and never crossed the finish line.
CTF Performance’s 2022 season is off to a strong start with the victory for the #95 Ligier JS2 R. The RLR MSport #75 claimed its second podium of the day and put in the fastest race lap at 2:07.651s. The #69 of M Racing car completed the top three.
This thrilling opening round is a fantastic omen of things to come in this year’s Ligier European Series season. Make sure to follow all the action from round two of the championship at Imola on 13 and 14 May.
Gillian Henrion, Team Virage, #16 Ligier JS P4, Winner of Races 2 :
“I’m super happy. We had a great weekend. We kept improving our times. I’m very proud of what we have achieved as I had only driven a sports prototype three times before this weekend. I’m so glad to be back racing as I didn’t race last season. We hope to continue like at the second round.”
Nicolas Béraud, CTF Performance, #95 Ligier JS2 R, Winner of Race 2 :
“We were unlucky in race one with a mechanical issue two laps from the finish. We wanted to use a rather aggressive strategy for race two, especially when the pit stop window opened to increase the gap to our rivals. And it paid off. It’s a great victory for the entire team.”
For the complete results, CLICK HERE.
