RLR MSport closes out 2023 Ligier European Series on the podium at soggy Portimao

RLR MSport closed out its maiden multi-class assault on the Ligier European Series with yet more podium finishes in the unseasonably wet Portimao Heat (19-21 October).

The Bolton, England-based team secured pole positions for the second Ligier race at Autodromo Internacional do Algarve with JS P4 duo Haytham Qarajouli and Ian Aguilera, and JS2 R pairing Maximus Mayer and Martin Rich, who came away with a brace of second place finishes.

The results put RLR MSport and Mayer third in the JS2 R Teams and Drivers Championships, with the latter also finishing top in the Pro-Am classification.

In the first Portimao Heat, Qarajouli maintained fourth position overall and was latched onto the rear of the top three until the #48 Team Virage car demoted him to fifth, where he stayed until the completion of the opening stint on lap 15.

Ian Aguilera, who featured as low as seventh, went on to depose the #11 Monza Garage car for sixth before teeing up a move on the #50 Les Deux Arbres for P5 on the 27th run through Turn 1, progressing forward so he and Qarajouli were ultimately classified fourth.

Rich, meanwhile, made great progress from fifth on the JS2 R starting grid and could be found dicing with the class leader, until the #86 Les Deux Arbres, #29 Pegasus Racing and #43 LR Motorsport entries found a way through during the first eight tours of the Portimao circuit.

Mayer stepped into the #10 RLR MSport JS2 R on lap 14 and took only ten laps to close down a 15-second deficit to the #86 machine, which he cleared to then go off in pursuit of the second-placed #43 car.

In an intelligent piece of racecraft, Mayer wrongfooted his rival, who braked too late and opened the door into the Turn 5 hairpin, enabling the Alicante racer to register fastest laps in clean air and reduce his 42-second deficit to the eventual race winner.

Rain had impacted free practice and qualifying, and the inclement weather returned in time to wet the track before the second Portimao Heat, which started behind the Safety Car.

This limited Aguilera and Mayer’s opportunities to gap their class opponents prior to the driver-changes, but both did their utmost to edge away by recording fastest laps once at full racing speed.

Aguilera extended a two-second lead before the #4 HPRacing by Monza Garage mounted a challenge, and the young Mexican positioned his car beautifully in a valiant but ultimately futile defence of first position.

The #50 Les Deux Arbres car soon loomed large in his rear-view mirrors, but he kept a cool head, regrouped and pressurised the leading #4 into an error at Turn 14 to retake the initiative as the pit window opened.

Second after the driver-change, Qarajouli lost out to the #60 Team Virage in an entertaining dogfight but later launched a successful attack for P2 in the braking zone for Turn 1 on the 24th tour of the Portimao circuit.

However, the Kuwait driver came under immense pressure from the #7 LR Motorsport car in the closing stages of the hour-long race and, despite a staunch defence, was relegated to fifth on the final lap.

Mayer, though, pulled away relentlessly while in among the JS P4 tailenders and was 14 seconds to the good when he boxed to pass the reins to Rich.

The experienced British Am found himself down in third after the driver of the #43 car ran wide and clattered into him while rejoining the track, but his rival was later served with a drive-through penalty that rightfully promoted him back up to second.

From there, Rich pressed on after the class leader and was within four seconds of the victory when the chequered flag flew, rounding out a lucrative season for RLR MSport with another P2 result that was more than enough for the team and Mayer to secure third in the definitive JS2 R championship classifications.

“It was a really good, but tricky week in the Ligier European Series Portimao Heat,” said Mayer. “Martin (Rich) and I agreed it was too dangerous to go out in FP1 because of the extreme weather conditions, but we entered Friday’s FP2 and Qualifying sessions with confidence. We topped the timesheets in FP2 and I took pole position for the second race, so we were still confident about our prospects for the final two rounds of the 2023 season.

“Martin (Rich) and I did the best we could and secured a pair of P2 results, which I’m really happy with, because it puts me third in the championship. It’s a testament to all the hard work RLR MSport has put in over the course of the season.”

Rich added: “I’m very happy to have come second in both Ligier European Series races at Autodromo Internacional do Algarve. We faced a difficult set of conditions; we didn’t get any running in FP1, went straight out into very slippery conditions in FP2, before a dry first race and a wet second race. I’m slightly frustrated that I wasn’t able to help Max (Mayer) get the wins he deserved, especially as I was less than four seconds adrift of the eventual race two winner. Overall, though, it was an absolutely fantastic weekend with RLR MSport and I’m glad to have jumped in the car and helped Max secure third in the JS2 R Drivers Championship.”

Aguilera said: “The Ligier European Series Portimao Heat was very tricky as we had very changeable conditions to deal with. I managed to get the job done in qualifying by securing pole position for the second race, but we didn’t get the results we wanted. On the whole, though, it has been a very positive season, as I’ve done a lot of learning and we’ve had some good results that I’m very happy with.”

Qarajouli said: “Looking at the 2023 Ligier European Series as a whole, I’ve really enjoyed racing the Ligier JS P4 prototype. Ian (Aguilera) and I had never driven the car and it was also new to RLR MSport, but we went into the year with our eyes open and helped each other along. While the season had its ups and downs, we scored really good points in every race and came away with some podium finishes in our maiden JS P4 campaign. To come fourth in the championship against such an experienced field is a big achievement and something we can be pleased with.

“Of course, conditions have been terrible throughout the Portimao Heat. I was really looking forward to coming to Autodromo Internacional do Algarve, because it’s a great circuit and you usually experience fantastic weather. However, the changeable conditions made it difficult to optimise the car’s setup, so I’m pleased with the fourth we achieved in race one and fifth in race two for another good points haul. All-in-all, it has been great to be part of the Ligier family with RLR MSport, and I’m grateful for the opportunity.”