Spa Heat Race 2 Report: Stevens and Peters Triumph in Home Race

Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium – Local duo Vic Stevens and Jude Peters secured a commanding victory for Team Virage in Race 2 of the Ligier European Series on Sunday morning. Driving the #27 Ligier JS P4, the pair navigated an hour fraught with early incidents, ultimately crossing the finish line ahead of their competitors.

Race Highlights:
The race began with immediate drama as a multi-car incident resulted in the first safety car deployment. Notably, the #12 ASM Motorsport Ligier JS P4, driven by Ruben Hage, collided with the #6 ANS Motorsport car, creating a chain reaction that eliminated the #19 Trajectus Motorsport entry from contention.

Following a 13-minute neutralization, pole sitter Romain Boeckler in the #22 Loire Valley Racing Ligier JS P4 held the lead. However, a collision with Hage at La Source earned him a drive-through penalty. The race saw multiple interruptions, including a second safety car period due to Maxwell Dodds’ #6 vehicle becoming stranded.

As the race resumed, Michael Bulzacchelli in the #3 Ligier LR Motorsport JS P4 temporarily took the lead following a round of pit stops. However, it was Stevens who showcased his driving prowess, overtaking Bulzacchelli at the Bus Stop chicane to secure the lead. Stevens and Peters crossed the line first in a photo finish, with Bulzacchelli’s team finishing second, and the ASM Motorsport pair of André Vieira and Mathis Poulet rounding out the podium.

Top Finishers in Ligier JS P4:

1. 27 Team Virage – Vic Stevens/Jude Peters

2. 3 Ligier LR Motorsport – Pietro Ferri/Michael Bulzacchelli

3. 44 ASM Motorsport – André Vieira/Mathis Poulet

In the PRO-AM category, the #29 Pegasus Racing Ligier JS P4 of Julien Schell and Christophe Weber claimed victory, while the #16 entry won in the AM class with drivers David Caussanel and Yuki Tanaka.

Comments from the Winners:

Jude Peters reflected on the challenging start, noting, “Turn one was a little bit of a mess…I just managed to wave my way through.” Vic Stevens added, “It’s an amazing feeling to win at home… I fought my way back to first place.”

Ligier JS2 R Insights:

In the Ligier JS2 R class, August Therbo from 23Events Racing took first place in the #57 car, cementing his lead in the series. Despite early setbacks, including a ten-second penalty for Noé Da Cunha in the #50, Therbo and his team successfully maneuvered to secure the victory against stiff competition from Steven Palette’s #18 VSF Sports entry.

JS2 R Top Finishers:

1. 57 23Events Racing – August Therbo

2. 18 VSF Sports – Lukas Papin/Steven Palette

3. 7 LR Motorsport – Simone Riccitelli

Upcoming Events:

The Ligier European Series moves to Silverstone on September 12-13 for its next round, marking a new milestone for the competitors.

Race 2 Results Summary: [Detailed Results Listing]

This event showcased resilience and strategic skill from all teams amid a challenging race environment, setting the stage for an exciting season ahead.