RLR MSport has formed a stairway of talent that provides discerning amateurs and aspiring professional drivers with a complete and cost-effective road to the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Having committed to the Ligier European Series with Ligier’s JS2 R anniversary GT car, RLR MSport now has a relatively inexpensive launchpad for Bronze-graded Ams and young karting or single-seater graduates who wish to reach the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) and Le Mans.
RLR MSport will field a Ligier JS2 R in the new-for-2020 Ligier European Series, which will run in tandem with five European Le Mans Series (ELMS) rounds in Barcelona, Monza, Le Castellet, Spa-Francorchamps and Portimao.
While costs for a full-season campaign are notably lower than equivalent GT4 categories, drivers still benefit from the ELMS’s high levels of exposure and a full programme made up of 60 minutes of free practice, a pair of 20-minute qualifying sessions and two one-hour races per weekend.
However, through its participation in the Ligier European Series, Michelin Le Mans Cup, ELMS and Asian Le Mans Series, RLR MSport is equipped to provide drivers with a seamless route to the top tiers of international sportscar racing, via LMP3 and LMP2.
RLR MSport Director of Motorsport Operations, Nick Reynolds, said: “RLR MSport is proud to be providing ambitious Am drivers and young aspiring professionals with a complete and affordable road to the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Our participation in the Ligier European Series reinforces our commitment to opening up the endurance sportscar racing world to drivers.
“The Ligier European Series will be the first step on RLR MSport’s stairway of talent. We feel there’s great value in an entry and we’re excited about adding it to our established LMP2 and LMP3 programmes. It’s a very cost-effective solution for those who want better value for money than GT4 and for those who want to progress into prototypes. Drivers have a great chance to learn many of the best tracks in Europe, refine their abilities and learn how to operate as part of a professional racing team at the highest levels of motorsport.”
The 2020 Ligier European Series will commence at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya (3-4 April) before heading to Monza, Italy (8-9 May) and Circuit Paul Ricard, France (17-18 July).
After a summer break, the series visits Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium (18-19 September) and Autodromo Internacional do Algarve, Portugal for the season finale (16-17 October).
