Magny-Cours Test (February 17-19)
Several teams were present in Burgundy last week.
Duqueine Racing (French GT Tour)
Duquesne Racing revealed its driver lineup for the French GT Tour. One of the two Ligier JSP3s will be driven by WEC driver Nelson Panciatici, team owner Gilles Duqueine and Peugeot RCZ Racing Cup winner Aurelien Comte.
“This LMP3 car is extraordinary,” says Comte. “It might be complicated for me, as I am essentially used to front-wheel-drive cars. I just hope I can adapt quickly. Nelson has a ton of experience. I couldn’t dream of a better teammate. I’m also happy to drive with Gilles. I really never thought I could aim for the title as early as my first year of competition.”
Ultimate Racing (ELMS)
Former WEC driver Matthieu Lahaye is back in an ACO championship after being on hiatus for a few years. “I had to get more involved in the management of our family business,” says Lahaye. “I couldn’t carry on as a driver as I used to, but I wanted to support my brother Jean-Baptiste in becoming one. So in 2014, we created our own team, racing Tatuus and Ligiers in the VdeV championship. Although I liked being a team manager, I was tempted by the possibility of driving with my brother in Le Mans as early as 2017.” This season, the two brothers will be driving a Ligier JSP3 with Francois Heriau in the ELMS.
Yvan Muller Racing (ELMS)
This was one of Ligier’s first appearances on the track with its beautiful new turquoise blue livery.
Several other teams tested in Magny-Cours, including United Autosports (which shookdown its second Ligier JSP3 – below), SRT 41, Oak Racing (with Pierre and Jacques Nicolet at the wheel) and Sylvain Boulay’s Adess (below – driven by Vincent Capillaire and Nelson Lukes).
Other News:
Eurointernational (ELMS)
The team tested its two Ligiers JSP3 at the Misano World Circuit in Italy with former Algarve Pro driver Andrea Roda and Italian Prototype Championship driver Marco Jacobini at the wheel. At this point, it is not known if both will be part of the team’s driver line-up. So far, Jay Palmer, Giorgio Mondini and Constantino Peroni have been confirmed for the forthcoming ELMS season.
Panis-Barthez Competition (ELMS)
The French team revealed the Ligier JSP3’s driver line-up, which includes gentleman driver Eric Debard, Formula Renault driver Simon Gachet and French F4 Champion Valentin Moisneault.
“Debard is one of the best Bronze rated drivers I know,” says Team Principal Olivier Panis. “Gachet and Moisneault are two very fast drivers … Simon has huge potential, and we are convinced that this LMP3 season will give him an opportunity to reveal his talent. I spotted him a year ago while he was driving for Tech1 Racing.”
Race Performance (ELMS)
Giorgio Maggi will be competing in the 2016 European Le Mans Series as a member of the Race Performance squad. The 18-year-old Swiss driver will be sharing the cockpit of a new Ligier JS P3 with teammate Marcello Marateotto in the LMP3 class.
This winter, Giorgio Maggi drove with Wolf Racing in the Asian Le Mans Series and won the title in the CN class. He already knows the team very well, having driven for Race Performance in the 2015 ADAC Formula 4 series.
“When I made the mid-season switch to Race Performance in 2015, it was like a new start for me. The atmosphere in the team was fantastic from day one, and they made it very easy for me to settle in. They know how to build fast cars, as they so convincingly demonstrated by winning the Asian Le Mans Series.”
RLR MSport meanwhile have been out testing at Donington Park today with their new Ligier as the team prepare for their ELMS campaign, Ossy Yusuf amongst the drivers, the ex British GT GT4 Lotus man loving his new mount for 2016.
Finally for now the first pic of the Counter Solutions Ligier JSP3, owned by Steve Donovan, that is set to contest the VdeV series in 2016 – another handsome looking Ligier livery!
Mat Fernandez (@matlemans) & GG
