Chapter 2: “An eventful weekend at Le Castellet“
After each round of the Ligier European Series, I share with you my experiences, emotions and lessons learned. This time, I’m off to the Circuit Paul Ricard, in Le Castellet, for a second round full of twists and turns.
Before the race: confidence and impatience
After a successful first round in Barcelona, I was really looking forward to this weekend. I was confident because my only pre-season training had taken place here at Le Castellet. With the Loire Valley Racing team, we had already worked hard on the car’s set-up. Unlike in Barcelona, I no longer had the stress of new experiences. I was ready to go.
On the track: highs, lows… and an unexpected victory
The first free practice session immediately reassured me: best time of the round. But then things got complicated. We had mechanical problems with the engine. This affected my performance in qualifying and led to my withdrawal from Race 1. I was extremely disappointed. My aim was to take pole positions and win both races to move up the overall standings, but instead we lost precious points.
We then took a risky but necessary decision: to change the engine before Race 2. The timing was extremely tight, and the pressure huge. We didn’t even know if we’d be able to take the start. But thanks to the support of Ligier Automotive and the hard work of the team, we succeeded. And I went to the start over-motivated.
I was determined to win Race 2. And I did it. It was an incredible victory, almost unhoped-for after such a complicated start to the weekend. I was so happy and proud of my team, who never gave up.
The highlight
The highlight of the weekend was, of course, the last-minute engine change, followed by the victory. A scenario that no one could have imagined. I think it’s one of the finest victories of my young career.
What I learned
First of all, I’d like to highlight our solid performance, despite the mechanical problems. I also learned that nothing is ever lost until you cross the finish line. The team’s determination and hard work paid off.
But I also remember that we still lost precious points in the championship. We must be more consistent and avoid mistakes if we want to get back into the title race.
Next step
Off to Le Mans! Objective: no mistakes, pole position and victory on this legendary circuit.
– Romain Boeckler
Junior Champion Ligier JS Cup France 2024
Driver Journal produced in collaboration with Ligier Automotive
