Today’s action continued at Circuit Paul Ricard with the two qualifying sessions. In the sport-prototype category, a new driver to the series, Daniel Cazzaniga (#4 of HPRacing by Monza Garage), won the pole for race 1. In the second session, Mihnea Stefan, in the #48 of Team Virage, claimed his third pole of the season. In the GT category, Maximus Mayer (#10 RLR MSport) also won his third pole position of the season (race 1). Julien Lemoine in the #42 ANS Motorsport Ligier JS2 R secured his maiden pole position of the season for race 2.
JS P4 category: HPRacing by Monza Garage and Team Virage on pole
The first qualifying session was a hotly contested affair. Two drivers were locked in a tight battle. Daniele Cazzaniga, in the #4 HPRacing by Monza Garage Ligier JS P4, took the overall pole position with a lap of 1:59.155s, edging out Simone Riccitelli in the #7 LR Motorsport car (1:59.159s) by a mere 0.004 seconds. Mihnea Stefan, in the #48 from Team Virage, secured the pole position for race 2 with a lap of 1:59.218s, his third of 2023.
In PRO-AM, Steve Zacchia in the #50 Les Deux Arbres Ligier JS P4 got the better of the #4 HPRacing by Monza Garage Ligier JS P4 in the second qualifying session with his best time of 2:00.388s.
David Caussanel in the #16 Pegasus Racing Ligier JS P4 posted the fastest time in the AM class, with a lap of 2:01.302s. The second session was led by Kevin Madsen in the #1 of Team Virage, with a lap of 2:00.087s.
JS2 R category: the third pole of the season for RLR MSport, the first for ANS Motorsport
In session 1, it was once again Maximus Mayer in the #10 RLR MSport Ligier JS2 R who came out on top in qualifying, setting the fastest lap in the GT field with a time of 2:06.619s. Since the start of the season in Barcelona in April, the RLR MSport driver has topped every qualifying session in which he has participated. The #42 ANS Motorsport Ligier JS2 R driven by Julien Lemoine put in the fastest lap in the AM class with a time of 2:08.590s.
In session 2, Julien Lemoine, in the AM classed #42 ANS Motorsport car, claimed his first pole of the season with a best time of 2:08.426s. Simon Butler led the way in the PRO-AM class in the #10 RLR MSport Ligier JS2 R with a lap of 2:12.821s.
Daniele Cazzaniga, HPRacing by Monza Garage, #4 Ligier JS P4, pole position, race 1:
“This is the best result we could have hoped for as this is our first participation to the Ligier European Series and first time driving the Ligier JS P4 in competition. This was our target after we clocked the fastest lap in free practice 2. The car is very good as is the feeling with the team. We only did one test in Cremona, a small track in Italy. I’m very happy for me and my father who is my teammate. We will see how it goes tomorrow.”
Mihnea Stefan, Team Virage, #48 Ligier JS P4, pole position, race 2:
“I’m both happy and a bit angry. At Paul Ricard, you have to pick up the tow from someone if you can. I was the first one to break the air so that didn’t really help me in the first qualifying session. I thought I could get the tow from someone but by the end of the session I couldn’t do anything and finished P4. Then in qualifying 2 I better prepared the tyres and the car and went again for a flying lap and I got it.”
Maximus Mayer, RLR MSport, #10 Ligier JS2 R, pole position, race 1:
“Qualifying went really well. I think everybody had to deal with the tyres due to the heat we are having here. Everyone had a one chance to get a flying lap like I did. It went really well. Luckily! I had only done one lap in FP1 and minimal time in FP2.”
Julien Lemoine, ANS Motorsport, #42 Ligier JS2 R, pole position, race 2:
“The session went well even though I had some trouble getting into it. It’s my first pole position of the season. That’s fantastic! Now the aim is to finish on the podium in tomorrow’s two races. So I’m staying focused.”
Join us on Saturday, 15 July, for the two one-hour races. Race 1 will start at 9 am and race 2 at 1:20 pm. Both races will be streamed live on the Ligier European Series Youtube channel and Facebook page.
For the results of session 1, CLICK HERE.
For the results of session 2, CLICK HERE.
