The penultimate race of the Ligier European Series season delivered plenty of twists and turns at Portimão. In Ligier JS P4, August Therbo secured M Racing’s first victory of the season aboard the #57. ANS Motorsport moved into the championship lead ahead of the final race. In Ligier JS2 R, Maxime Aparicio and Anthony Ghibaudo claimed their first outright victory in the category aboard VSF Sports’ #18, also taking the PRO-AM honours.
Ligier JS P4: M Racing wins as ANS Motorsport takes the championship lead.
Starting from pole position in LR Motorsport’s #7 Ligier JS P4, Pietro Ferri retained the lead at the start. Behind him, Brandon McCaughan moved into second aboard Team Virage’s #1. Ethan Pharamond, driving ANS Motorsport’s #6, first had to contend with Tomas Pompidou in Trajectus Motorsport’s #19 before reclaiming second place.
A spin for Pietro Ferri changed the order and allowed Ethan Pharamond to take the lead. Brandon McCaughan responded, moving Team Virage’s #1 to the front just before the safety car was deployed.
The pit stops took place during the safety car period. At the restart, Sebastien Kawpeng, who had taken over from Brandon McCaughan in the #1, led Mika Abrahams aboard the #6. Both cars, however, were placed under investigation for leaving the pit lane while the light was red. On track, the two drivers continued their battle and sought to extend their advantage over the chasing pack.
On the final lap, Mika Abrahams was involved in contact with LR Motorsport’s #81 JS2 R. The #6 driver nevertheless managed to rejoin and crossed the line in second, behind Sebastien Kawpeng and ahead of August Therbo in M Racing’s #57.
Post-race penalties for Team Virage’s #1 and ANS Motorsport’s #6 changed the classification. August Therbo inherited the victory for M Racing. Gabriel Doyle-Parfait and Nickolas Ellis took second aboard Trajectus Motorsport’s #20, ahead of Sacha Van’t Pad Bosch in ASM Motorsport’s #44. The latter received a penalty for repeatedly exceeding track limits and dropped to sixth. Scott Marsh therefore completed the top three aboard Petrogold’s #33 Ligier JS P4.
In PRO-AM, Dominique Bastien and Marius Kristiansen took the honours with Bretton Racing’s #69, while Emil Hellberg won the AM classification aboard Allay Racing’s #48 JS P4.
ANS Motorsport heads into the final race of the season at the top of the JS P4 standings, just five points ahead of Team Virage and twenty clear of M Racing. Everything remains to play for.
Ligier JS P4 overall podium: Nickolas Ellis / Gabriel Doyle-Parfait (#20 Trajectus Motorsport) (left), August Therbo (#57 M Racing) (centre), Sacha Van’t Pad Bosch (#44 ASM Motorsport) (right, before his penalty).
Ligier JS P4 PRO-AM winners: Marius Kristiansen / Dominique Bastien (#69 Bretton Racing).
Ligier JS P4 AM winner: Emil Hellberg (#48 Allay Racing).
August Therbo, M Racing, Ligier JS P4 #57, Winner of Race 1:
“It was quite a difficult race. We started P7 and had a small spin in the middle of the race. But we managed to have great speed and we won. So overall, very happy!”
Ligier JS2 R: First outright victory for VSF Sports’ #18
Charles Lambert retained the lead at the start in Trajectus Motorsport’s #83 Ligier JS2 R, ahead of Marcus Terkildsen aboard 23Events Racing’s #88 and Antonin Bernard in VSF Sports’ #41. The polesitter quickly pulled clear of the field, while Maxime Aparicio moved into third with VSF Sports’ #18.
Following the safety car period and the mandatory pit stops, Anthony Ghibaudo, who had taken over from Maxime Aparicio in the #18, moved into the lead. Daniel Dallakyan followed in the sister #41 car but received a five-second penalty for overtaking off track and gaining an advantage.
At the end of the one-hour race, Maxime Aparicio and Anthony Ghibaudo claimed their first outright victory in the category aboard VSF Sports’ #18. The duo also won the PRO-AM classification. Already crowned champions at Silverstone, Antonin Bernard and Daniel Dallakyan crossed the finish line in second with the #41, ahead of Marcus Terkildsen in 23Events Racing’s #88. The #41 crew received a post-race penalty for repeatedly exceeding track limits and dropped to seventh.
Marcus Terkildsen and 23Events Racing were promoted to second, while Simone Bianco completed the podium aboard LR Motorsport’s #81.
Ligier JS2 R overall podium: Antonin Bernard / Daniel Dallakyan (#41 VSF Sports) (left, before their penalty), Maxime Aparicio / Anthony Ghibaudo (#18 VSF Sports) (centre), Marcus Terkildsen (#88 23Events Racing) (right, before being promoted to second place).
Ligier JS2 R PRO-AM winners: Maxime Aparicio / Anthony Ghibaudo (#18 VSF Sports).
Maxime Aparicio, VSF Sports, Ligier JS2 R #18, Winner in JS2 R of Race 1:
“The car was amazing this morning. I never had a feeling like that. So I felt very confident. I just preserved the tires at the beginning of the stint, got the pace lap after lap. And then managed to pass Antonin [Bernard in the #41 VSF Sports] then Marcus [Terkildsen in the #88 23Events Racing]. Then the pace was there. We had a really good strategy when we did the pit stop under the Safety Car.”
Anthony Ghibaudo, VSF Sports, Ligier JS2 R #18, Winner in JS2 R of Race 1:
“I’m very happy to have this first [overall] win. My teamdid a good job to give me the car in the first position. Our sister car had a penalty so I just needed to manage to stay behind him and to keep pushing so that Marcus Terkildsen didn’t come back on me. To finish the season like this is great.”
The one-hour Race 2 will start this afternoon at 2:00 pm (local time). Who will claim the Ligier JS P4 title? Watch the race live on the series’ YouTube channel to find out.
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Photo credit: DPPI
