The third Heat of the 2026 Ligier European Series, one of the most eagerly awaited rounds of the season, took place on Sunday 7 June on the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans circuit. Under the blue skies of the Sarthe and on a dry track, the thirty-nine Ligier JS P4 and Ligier JS2 R cars lined up for an intense one-hour race on the 13.626-kilometre full circuit.
The race was neutralised twice. The first Safety Car was deployed after contact between two Ligier JS2 Rs: the #88 23Events Racing entry, which had started from pole position, and the #81 LR Motorsport car. A second neutralisation was then triggered after the #99 Team Virage Ligier JS P4 stopped on track.
At the end of a race that remained lively until the final lap, the #6 ANS Motorsport Ligier JS P4, driven by Ethan Pharamond and Mika Abrahams, took victory in JS P4 and secured its second win of the season. In JS2 R, the order changed after post-race scrutineering. The #53 M Racing Ligier JS2 R, which had initially crossed the line first, was disqualified for failing to meet the minimum car weight requirement. Victory therefore went to the #62 LADC by RSL entry, driven by Oskar Kristensen.
Ligier JS P4: second win of the season for ANS Motorsport
The start of the Le Mans Heat was clean, but the battle at the front began immediately. Alex Gardner, at the wheel of the #14 Team Virage Ligier JS P4, and Pietro Ferri, in the #7 LR Motorsport entry, fought for the leading positions from the opening laps. August Therbo, driving the #57 M Racing car, quickly joined the fight and took the lead after only a few minutes of racing.
After fifteen minutes, the race was neutralised by the first Safety Car following the stoppage of the #88 23Events Racing Ligier JS2 R.
At the restart, the field dived into the pit lane for the mandatory pit stops. The #57 M Racing car, now driven by Martin Lacquemanne, emerged in the lead ahead of the #6 ANS Motorsport entry, handed over to Mika Abrahams, and the #14 Team Virage car, with Simon Schranz at the wheel.
The fight for victory resumed in earnest between Martin Lacquemanne and Mika Abrahams, before a second Safety Car temporarily froze the order after the #99 Team Virage car stopped on track.
When the race resumed, only one lap and four minutes remained on the clock. The final sprint was on. At the end of this tense last lap, Ethan Pharamond and Mika Abrahams crossed the finish line first in the #6 ANS Motorsport Ligier JS P4. The pair secured their second victory of the 2026 season, following their win in the opening race of the Castellet Heat.
The #14 Team Virage entry, driven by Alex Gardner and Simon Schranz, finished second, ahead of the #7 LR Motorsport car of Simone Riccitelli and Pietro Ferri.
In the AM classification, victory went to the #50 Les Deux Arbres Ligier JS P4, with Jérémy Loisel at the wheel.
Ligier JS P4 Overall podium: #6 ANS Motorsport (Ethan Pharamond / Mika Abrahams) (winner), #14 Team Virage (Alex Gardner / Simon Schranz) (second), #7 LR Motorsport (Simone Riccitelli / Pietro Ferri) (third).
Winner JS P4 AM: #50 Les Deux Arbres (Jérémy Loisel)
Ethan Pharamond, ANS Motorsport, Ligier JS P4 #6, JS P4 category winner:
“It’s incredible to win this race. Just driving on the 24 Hours of Le Mans circuit is like a childhood dream. We are as close as it gets to the Hypercars. And to win on this circuit in the way we did is magical. The first stint went very well. We had to climb back up the order. In two laps, we had already made up a lot of ground on the competition.”
Mika Abrahams, ANS Motorsport, Ligier JS P4 #6, JS P4 category winner:
« It’s incredibly special to win here. All the hard work the team puts in, my parents, everyone behind the scenes, Ethan. You come to this iconic track and you see the pitlane, you walk this iconic track and to win on it from last on the grid, it’s unbelievable. I think I can say I made my new old me proud. I’m very happy to walk away with silverware and the maximum amount of points. I couldn’t have done it without Ethan. He started at the back of the grid and took us to the front. Coming out of the pits, we were P3 and I managed to overtake us and to take P1. Simon [Schranz in the #14 Team Virage] gave a very good fight. But I defended really hard. I wanted it so badly, for the team, for us, for everyone. And we managed to win it.”
Ligier JS2 R: LADC by RSL wins after post-race scrutineering
The JS2 R category delivered plenty of twists and turns during the one-hour race on the full 24 Hours of Le Mans circuit. Starting from pole position, the #88 23Events Racing Ligier JS2 R, driven by Marcus Terkildsen, initially held the advantage. But Natan Bihel, at the wheel of the #53 M Racing entry, soon began to put pressure on the leader and took control after only a few minutes of racing.
Shortly afterwards, Marcus Terkildsen went off at Arnage and hit the #81 LR Motorsport Ligier JS2 R, bringing out the first Safety Car.
After the restart and the mandatory pit stops, Natan Bihel retained the lead in the JS2 R category. Behind him, Jean-Philippe Jouvent held second place in the #4 ANS Motorsport car, ahead of Charles Lambert in the #83 Trajectus Motorsport entry.
With eighteen minutes remaining before the chequered flag, the race was neutralised once again. Only one lap remained when the field was released for a final decisive tour. The battle intensified over the final kilometres. Under the chequered flag, the #53 M Racing car crossed the line first, ahead of the #62 LADC by RSL entry, driven by Oskar Kristensen, who produced a strong comeback on the final lap. Charles Lambert completed the provisional podium at the wheel of the #83 Trajectus Motorsport Ligier JS2 R.
However, the order changed after post-race scrutineering. The #53 M Racing Ligier JS2 R was disqualified after the car failed to meet the minimum car weight requirement. Victory therefore went to Oskar Kristensen and the #62 LADC by RSL entry. The #83 Trajectus Motorsport car, with Charles Lambert at the wheel, was promoted to second. The #4 ANS Motorsport entry of Jean-Philippe Jouvent and Louis Iglesias completed the podium and also won the PRO/AM classification.
Ligier JS2 R podium overall: #53 M Racing (Natan Bihel) (disqualified after scrutineering), #62 LADC by RSL (Oskar Kristensen) (winner on the left), #83 Trajectus Motorsport (Charles Lambert) (second on the left)
Ligier JS2 R PRO-AM Winners and third in JS2 R: #4 ANS Motorsport (Jean Philippe Jouvent / Louis Iglesias)
Ligier JS2 R AM Winner : #61 LADC Motorsport (Erwan Bihel)
The Ligier European Series competitors can now enjoy the summer break before returning to the track for the Spa Heat, which will take place from 21 to 23 August.
CLICK HERE for the results.
Photo credit: DPPI
