The final two qualifying sessions of the 2026 season took place at Portimão on Thursday, 8 October, with closely matched competitors battling for pole position.
In the Ligier JS P4 category, Pietro Ferri took pole for Race 1 aboard LR Motorsport’s #7, while August Therbo secured pole for Race 2 in M Racing’s #57. Both the Italian and the Dane claimed their first pole positions of the season. In Ligier JS2 R, Charles Lambert secured his first pole of the season for Race 1 in Trajectus Motorsport’s #83, while Marcus Terkildsen claimed his seventh pole position aboard 23Events Racing’s #88.
The JS P4 championship-leading #14 Ligier JS P4 of Team Virage and LR Motorsport’s #81 Ligier JS2 R did not take part in qualifying following their contact in Free Practice 2. Team Virage’s #99 Ligier JS P4 also missed both sessions. All three cars will therefore start both Portimão Heat races from the back of the grid.
Ligier JS P4: LR Motorsport and M Racing take pole for Races 1 and 2
August Therbo set the early pace aboard M Racing’s #57 Ligier JS P4, followed by Ethan Pharamond in ANS Motorsport’s #6. The two title contenders were closely matched, but Pietro Ferri soon joined the battle in LR Motorsport’s #7. With less than a minute remaining before the chequered flag, Ferri moved to the top of the timesheets with a lap of 1:46.996, securing his first pole position of the season. Ethan Pharamond finished second in ANS Motorsport’s #6, followed by Brandon McCaughan aboard Team Virage’s #1.
In the second session, ANS Motorsport’s #6, now driven by Mika Abrahams, battled with August Therbo in M Racing’s #57. With the title at stake, grid positions were crucial for both teams. Ultimately, August Therbo and M Racing set the fastest time of 1:46.519. Pietro Ferri finished second in LR Motorsport’s #7, just two tenths behind. Mika Abrahams recorded the third-fastest time of the session with a lap of 1:46.801 in ANS Motorsport’s #6.
In PRO-AM, Bretton Racing’s #69 secured class pole for both races with Marius Kristiansen and Dominique Bastien, while Emil Hellberg took AM pole aboard Allay Racing’s #48.
Pietro Ferri, LR Motorsport, Ligier JS P4 #7, Pole position for Race 1:
“The qualifying was really fun. Finally, I have the car all by myself. Simone [Riccitelli] is racing in Italy. But that’s ok because I’m enjoying the circuit and the car. The pace is really good. We did some adjustment on the car after FP2. Car was working well and we managed to take pole position and it was fun!”
August Therbo, M Racing, Ligier JS P4 #57, Pole position for Race 2:
“Honestly, it was a very difficult qualifying. I started quite difficult with a P6 and we struggled quite a lot with the car. But I’m happy to see that we have the pace to be a fighter for the front and I’m sure we have the pace on the used tyres. So we will fight during the races tomorrow.”
Ligier JS2 R: Trajectus Motorsport and 23Events Racing set the pace
At the end of the opening fifteen-minute session, Charles Lambert topped the timesheets aboard Trajectus Motorsport’s #83 Ligier JS2 R with a lap of 1:52.960, securing his first pole position of the season. Marcus Terkildsen will line up alongside Lambert on the front row in 23Events Racing’s #88, having recorded a time of 1:53.039. The newly crowned champions’ #41 VSF Sports car, driven by Antonin Bernard, will start Race 1 from third.
The order changed in the second session. After a close battle on track, Marcus Terkildsen set the fastest time on his final lap aboard 23Events Racing’s #88 Ligier JS2 R. The Danish driver claimed his seventh pole position of the season with a time of 1:52.451. Daniel Dallakyan finished second in VSF Sports’ #41 with a best lap of 1:52.536, followed by Charles Lambert in Trajectus Motorsport’s #83 with a time of 1:52.757.
In PRO-AM, VSF Sports’ #18 secured class pole for Race 1 thanks to Maxime Aparicio’s best lap of 1:53.927. Trajectus Motorsport’s #84, shared by Jack and Martin Tabery, took class pole for Race 2 with Jack Tabery’s time of 1:53.037.
Charles Lambert, Trajectus Motorsport, Ligier JS2 R #83, Pole position in JS2 R for Race 1:
« I’m very happy about [this first pole position of the season]. It was a difficult qualifying, because the track is very hot and the condition very difficult. So it was difficult to make a best lap. Finally we made it and I’m super happy about that.”
Marcus Terkildsen, 23Events Racing, Ligier JS2 R #88, Pole position in JS2 R for Race 2:
“It’s my seventh pole position of the season. Qualifying 2 went very well. We managed the traffic very well. We got in cleaner in both qualifying. So very nice and the pace was good. Great qualifying sessions!”
The one-hour Race 1 will start on Friday, 9 October, at 9:00 am (local time). Race 2 will run from 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm. Both races will be broadcast live on the series’ YouTube channel and social media.
CLICK HERE for the Q1 results
CLICK HERE for the Q2 results
Photo credit: DPPI
