The suspense lasted until the very end at Portimão. The final race of the Ligier European Series season finished behind the safety car, with August Therbo taking his second victory of the day aboard M Racing’s #57. Third in Team Virage’s #14, Alex Gardner and Simon Schranz secured the JS P4 title after a particularly close battle: level on points and victories with ANS Motorsport, they took the crown on the number of second-place finishes.
In Ligier JS2 R, Antonin Bernard and Daniel Dallakyan, already crowned champions at Silverstone, rounded off their season with a victory aboard VSF Sports’ #41. Maxime Aparicio and Anthony Ghibaudo finished second in the #18, securing the team’s second one-two of the year. Bretton Racing claimed the JS P4 PRO-AM title, while Jack and Martin Tabery were crowned JS2 R PRO-AM champions with Trajectus Motorsport.
Ligier JS P4: Second victory for M Racing, fourth title for Team Virage
The title battle animated the JS P4 field from the start. Starting from pole position, August Therbo retained the lead aboard M Racing’s #57. Behind him, Simon Schranz began his charge through the field in Team Virage’s #14. Starting fourteenth, the Austrian driver quickly made up ground and closed in on Mika Abrahams in ANS Motorsport’s #6, which led the championship heading into the final race. A spin for Abrahams then allowed the #14 to move into third.
Following the mandatory pit stops, August Therbo still led Pietro Ferri in LR Motorsport’s #7 and Alex Gardner, who had taken over from Simon Schranz in the #14. Now at the wheel of ANS Motorsport’s #6, Ethan Pharamond was running fifth. He needed to gain one place to secure the title for his team.
However, with just a few minutes remaining before the chequered flag, Trajectus Motorsport’s #83 Ligier JS2 R went off track, bringing out the safety car. The race would not restart.
August Therbo therefore claimed his second victory of the day aboard M Racing’s #57, ahead of Pietro Ferri in LR Motorsport’s #7. Alex Gardner and Simon Schranz completed the podium with Team Virage’s #14. Sacha Van’t Pad Bosch finished fourth in ASM Motorsport’s #44, ahead of Ethan Pharamond and Mika Abrahams in ANS Motorsport’s #6.
With fifteen more points for Team Virage and ten for ANS Motorsport, the two crews ended the season level on 165 points each. Their three victories apiece were not enough to separate them. The title was therefore decided by the number of second-place finishes: two for Team Virage’s #14, compared with one for ANS Motorsport’s #6.
Alex Gardner and Simon Schranz were crowned 2026 JS P4 champions. Team Virage reclaimed the crown and secured its fourth Ligier European Series title, following those won by Gillian Henrion in 2022, Mihnea Stefan in 2023, and Haydn Chance and Theo Micouris in 2024.
In PRO-AM, Marius Kristiansen and Dominique Bastien won the final race aboard Bretton Racing’s #69 and secured the 2026 title. Emil Hellberg took the AM honours in Allay Racing’s #48, while Jérémy Loisel and Les Deux Arbres claimed the category’s AM title.
Ligier JS P4 overall podium: Pietro Ferri (#7 LR Motorsport) (left), August Therbo (#57 M Racing) (centre), Simon Schranz / Alex Gardner (#14 Team Virage) (right).
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 2:
“We started P1 so it was maybe a bit easier [than Race 1]. We really tried to manage the tires during the first stint and then to be consistent. We had a small contact but ended up being fine and we won again. Amazing. Very happy for the two wins. The team did an amazing job and gave me the best possible car. I’m very happy but also a bit gutted because we didn’t win the championship. But that’s how it is and we couldn’t do anything more.”
JS P4 PRO-AM champions: Marius Kristiansen / Dominique Bastien (#69 Bretton Racing).
JS P4 AM champion: Jérémy Loisel (#50 Les Deux Arbres).
Ligier JS2 R: The champions finish in style as VSF Sports takes a one-two
Starting from pole position in 23Events Racing’s #88, Marcus Terkildsen retained the lead at the start. After several laps, Daniel Dallakyan moved to the front aboard VSF Sports’ #41, followed by Simone Bianco in LR Motorsport’s #81 and Charles Lambert in Trajectus Motorsport’s #83.
The #81 then slowed on track, allowing Charles Lambert to move into second and Anthony Ghibaudo to climb to third in VSF Sports’ #18.
The mandatory pit stops left the leading order unchanged. Antonin Bernard, who had taken over from Daniel Dallakyan in the #41, retained the lead. With just a few minutes remaining, Charles Lambert went off track and ended up in the gravel in the #83, bringing out the safety car.
Antonin Bernard and Daniel Dallakyan won the final race of the season aboard VSF Sports’ #41. Already crowned at Silverstone, the JS2 R champions rounded off their campaign with another victory. Second in the #18, Maxime Aparicio and Anthony Ghibaudo also took the PRO-AM honours, helping VSF Sports secure its second one-two of the season. Simone Bianco completed the podium aboard LR Motorsport’s #81.
Ligier JS2 R overall podium: Maxime Aparicio / Anthony Ghibaudo (#18 VSF Sports) (left), Antonin Bernard / Daniel Dallakyan (#41 VSF Sports) (centre), Simone Bianco (#81 LR Motorsport) (right).
Ligier JS2 R PRO-AM winners: Maxime Aparicio / Anthony Ghibaudo (#18 VSF Sports).
Daniel Dallakyan, VSF Sports, Ligier JS2 R #41, Winner in JS2 R of Race 2:
“The first part of the race went pretty well. I managed to overtake Marcus [Terkildsen in the #88 23Events Racing] in the first lap, corner. I kept the pace and stayed consistent until the end of my stint. The team did a very good job with the car’s set up. And my teammate did an amazing job finishing the race. ”
Antonin Bernard, VSF Sports, Ligier JS2 R #41, Winner in JS2 R of Race 2:
“Well done to Daniel because he did a beautiful job on the first stint, with the overtakes and the incredible pace. He improved a lot during the season. I just had to finish the job. I didn’t feel much comfortable during race 1 so it was important for me also to enjoy. I think I did! Even if it was a bit difficult with the JS P4 traffic. I kept the pace and the gap on the second JS2 R. Very happy to finish on this note.”
In the PRO-AM championship, Jack and Martin Tabery’s consistency was rewarded. With three victories and eight second-place finishes, the father-and-son duo secured the title aboard Trajectus Motorsport’s #84.
JS2 R PRO-AM champions: Martin Tabery / Jack Tabery (#84 Trajectus Motorsport).
The 2026 season draws to a close at Portimão. Following the winter break, the Ligier European Series will return to the track in March 2027 at Barcelona for the opening Heat of its eighth season.
CLICK HERE for race 2 results
CLICK HERE for the final classifications
Photo credit: DPPI
