24h Le Mans
The polesitters demonstrated all their prowess in the two support races held today (Friday).
Jean Glorieux (#28 Porsche 992, Martinet by Almeras) managed to hold on to first place at the start until Bashar Mardini took the lead in the second lap. However, Mardini subsequently fell well back down the rankings. The #70 Porsche 981 driven by Fabien Bouche came unstuck in the Michelin Chicane, causing a slow zone while Arnaud Pierre (#14) crashed out at Mulsanne, which brought out the safety car. When the race resumed, it turned into a duel between the poleman and Kim André Hauschild (#47 Porsche 992, HRT Performance). In the final lap, the latter moved into the lead at Mulsanne, but Glorieux managed to reclaim his first place and take the chequered flag. John de Wilde claimed the third podium spot.
The first race of the Ligier European Series got underway at 11:00 and promised a thrilling show, despite the fact that Gillian Henrion (#16 Ligier JS P4, Team Virage), winner and polesitter at every round so far this season, started as the overwhelming favourite. However, much to everyone’s surprise, Simone Riccitelli (LR Motorsport) got the better of Henrion in the Dunlop Chicane and moved out front. This first lap saw the safety car deployed after Cedric Oltramare (#4 Ligier JS2 R, COOL Racing) went off at the Daytona Chicane.
A lap later, Henrion took back the lead but despite his best efforts, was unable to widen the gap, with Riccitelli and Dimitri Enjalbert (#17 Ligier, Pegasus Racing) remaning in his slipstream. With 30 minutes to go, Enjalbert overtook first Riccitelli, then Henrion in a breathtaking show of speed. The drivers in P1 and P2 then made their regulatory pitstop. Riccitelli chose to stay on track, which proved to be unwise as he found himself in eighth place when he finally made his stop. Henrion enjoyed an excellent out lap and moved back in front of the #17 Ligier, with Anthony Nahra having taken over driving duties in that car. Now seven seconds behind, Nahra’s only hope was a mistake by the leader. Henrion gained almost three seconds per lap and was, by now, too far ahead to be caught. Natan Bihel (Ligier #53 MRacing) finished third.
The JS2 R class was just as hotly disputed. Mathys Jaubert (#6 Ligier JS2 R, ANS Motorsport) and Jean-René de Fournoux (#10 Ligier Zosh - Di Environment) took turns in the lead for several long laps, outdistancing Paul Cocaign (#72 Ligier, LADC Motorsport). In the end, it was the #10 (de Fournoux/Rosati) which clinched victory, ahead of the #6 (Jaubert/Segers). The #95 JS2 R from CTF Performance took third place. Don’t miss the second round at 09:00 tomorrow.
