After every round of the Ligier European Series, I share my thoughts on the race weekend, what I’ve learned, and how I’m preparing for what’s next. For this fifth round, we headed to Silverstone, a legendary track I was discovering for the very first time.
Before the race: a long-awaited discovery
It was my first time racing on the Silverstone layout. I was excited to finally drive on this track I love… in the simulator! My goal was clear: win both races and score as many points as possible against my closest rivals. But unlike other weekends, I didn’t really feel any pressure — just the excitement to go racing.
On track: a clean battle… and a costly mistake
What struck me right away was how flat the track is — it reminded me of Le Castellet. But my favorite part was the Maggots–Becketts–Chapel section, which is insanely fast and flowing. It delivers incredible sensations and is hands down my favorite part of the circuit.
Qualifying was tricky due to a mechanical issue, and I only managed P5 and P6 on the grid.
In Race 1, I had a great start and made a series of strong overtakes to climb up to second place. The battle with car #1 was intense and respectful — the kind of duel you love as a driver. I crossed the line in P2, just behind the winner, and was happy to score important championship points.
Race 2 was more bittersweet. I started on the outside line and had a messy first lap. I made light contact with my main rival Iko and my teammate after a three-wide situation in the first lap. I slid slightly and clipped the rear of Iko’s car, which caused a chain reaction between the two of them. I received a drive-through penalty and dropped to the back of the field. But with the rain coming in, I managed to fight my way back up to P4.
It was a mixed feeling at the finish. I apologized to both drivers — that’s not how I want to race. I took a valuable lesson from that moment.
The highlight
That awesome battle with car #1 in Race 1. It was clean, intense, and respectful — racing at its best.
Still leading the championship
I leave Silverstone with a 9-point lead in the standings. That’s a lot… and not much at the same time. My mindset won’t change: stay consistent, go for the win every race, and make the right decisions. I’m a bit more confident, since I’ve been steadily gaining ground. But there’s no more room for error now.
What I take away
I need to work on being more patient. In Race 2, my move on the first lap was rushed. There was still a full hour of racing ahead, and I had the pace to come back in a cleaner way.
With the team, we also need to get back to our usual performance level. For the first time this season, we weren’t the fastest on track. We’ll also need to avoid any mechanical issues for the final round.
What’s next: the final showdown
One round left, and the goal is crystal clear: win both races and clinch the title. Everything comes down to this. We’ll give it everything with the team to go for that final victory… and the prize money.
— Romain Boeckler
Junior Champion – Ligier JS Cup France 2024
Driver Journal created in collaboration with Ligier Automotive
