The #23 HP Racing by Monza Garage Ligier JS P4 and the #53 M Racing Ligier JS2 R will start from pole position in their respective categories for the two races in the South of France! Worth noting was the strong runs of the #4 Cool Racing and #17 Arctic Energy Ligier JS2 Rs with the Swiss team qualifying for the first time third in the Ligier European Series for race one and their Russian counterparts doing the same for race two.
Friday 4 June, 3:20 pm. The drivers went out for the first 15-minute qualifying session to determine the starting grid for race one tomorrow morning. In the Ligier JS P4 category, the #23 HP Racing by Monza Garage with Jacopo Faccioni entry won the pole with a time of 2:03.887s. The #33 Les Deux Arbres car driven by Jacques Nicolet was two seconds behind, with gentleman driver Nelson a close third at 0.08s behind in the #34 sister car.
In Ligier JS2 R, Natan Bihel will start P1 in the category in race one thanks to his session-best time of 2:07.165s. Next on the timesheet was the #24 Orhès Racing driven by Olivier Pernaut. After finishing third this morning in free practice, the #4 Cool Racing car with Cédric Oltramare at the controls will start third in race one.
The second qualifying session began just before 4 pm. Following their strong results earlier, the #23 HP Racing by Monza Garage Ligier JS P4 #23 with Alessandro Cicognani and the #53 M Racing Ligier JS2 R both took their second pole position of the day! The #34 Les Deux Arbres Ligier JS P4 got the better of the #33 car.
In the GT category, the second-best time was once again set by the #24 Orhès Racing Ligier JS2 R driven by Mathieu Martins. The #17 Arctic Energy car driven by Povilas Jankavicius also put in an excellent run to qualify third in the category.
Natan Bihel, M Racing, Ligier JS2 R #53, Double Pole Position:
“After this morning’s free practice where it was somewhat complicated, we were a bit sceptical. But we looked at the data and the videos to see what was wrong, and we found it straight away. In the first session, we had a bit of a gap to P2, so I set a good time. In the second session, with Mathieu [Martins] in the Orhès Racing [#24], we had to go the time straight away. Even though it is a big track, I had some traffic issues. We have to find the right slipstream because there is a long straight without being hindered behind. “
Jacopo Faccioni, HP Racing by Monza Garage, Ligier JS P4 #23, Double Pole Position :
“I am delighted with our two pole positions. I really like Circuit Paul Ricard, but it is a very difficult track. I tried to improve and test the limits lap by lap in free practice. I think my performance in qualifying was better than this morning. Tomorrow our pit stops will be 20 seconds longer than the others, but we will fight hard to win the race.”
Alessandro Cicognani, HP Racing by Monza Garage, Ligier JS P4 #23, Double Pole Position:
“Everything went well. After free practice, we made some improvements to the car that worked well. I was unlucky on my best lap when another car spun in front of me, which forced me to lift. But I still won the pole position. I look forward to tomorrow’s races! “
The first one-hour race on Saturday 5 June for the Ligier JS2 Rs and Ligier JS P4s starts at 10:50 am. Race two will get underway at 2:50 pm. Both races will be broadcast live on the Ligier European Series website and its Facebook page and YouTube channel.
For the complete results from Q1, CLICK HERE.
For the complete results from Q2, CLICK HERE.
