Race Report: VSF Sports Racing Ends the 2026 Season on Top in the Ligier European Series
Two cars, two titles and a season finale worthy of an intense year of racing. At the Algarve International Circuit in Portimão, VSF Sports Racing brought its 2026 campaign to a close with an outstanding team performance: the No. 41 secured the JS2R Championship title, while the No. 18 finished as Vice-Champion. A thrilling finale filled with twists and turns, fierce on-track battles and decisive strategic calls culminated in a one-two finish on the overall podium in the final race. A fitting reward for the commitment and hard work of the drivers and the entire team throughout the season.
A High-Stakes Season Finale with Clear Objectives
The final round of the season, the Portimão Heat, carried particular significance for both crews. While the No. 41 of Antonin Bernard and Daniel Dallakyan had already secured the JS2R Championship title, the stakes remained high for the No. 18 of Maxime Aparicio and Anthony Ghibaudo, who were still fighting to secure second place in the overall standings and challenge for the top honours in the Pro-Am category.
Arriving at the Portuguese circuit on Wednesday, the drivers and team dedicated the first day to technical scrutineering, briefings and preparations for the final event of the calendar. This groundwork proved essential ahead of a particularly busy Thursday, featuring free practice sessions and qualifying.
Thursday: Promising Practice Sessions Ahead of Qualifying
From the very first sessions, both crews showed encouraging pace. Comfortable behind the wheel of their Ligier JS2R cars, all four drivers completed multiple laps and confirmed the cars’ potential during Free Practice 1 and 2.
Qualifying proved more challenging for some drivers, in a session where every tenth of a second counts. Despite these difficulties, both crews secured promising starting positions, setting the stage for strong opportunities in the following day’s races.
On Friday, it was time to race. Two races to bring the season to a close, two distinct objectives, but one shared ambition: to finish the year on a high.
Race 1: An Intense Battle and a Race Full of Twists and Turns
At 9:00 a.m. on Friday, October 9, the lights went out for the first race of the day. Maxime Aparicio made an excellent start, quickly moving into the top three in the JS2R category. Antonin Bernard, meanwhile, opted for a more measured launch and began working his way up from fifth place.
As the opening stint unfolded, the No. 18 continued its charge and moved into second place behind Charles Lambert. The No. 41 gradually climbed to fifth before handing over to Daniel Dallakyan.
The safety car then reshuffled the order. The gaps closed, and strategy became crucial. Managing the pit-stop window and timing the driver changes proved decisive during this pivotal phase of the race.
At the restart, Anthony Ghibaudo found himself leading the JS2R field in the No. 18. Daniel Dallakyan, who emerged from the pit stops in third after Marcus Terkildsen moved ahead of him in the pit lane, launched an aggressive second stint. Both VSF Sports Racing crews were now at the front of the field, right in the middle of an intense battle.
Anthony Ghibaudo delivered a solid performance, managing his pace to maintain the lead. Behind him, Daniel Dallakyan steadily closed the gap to his teammate. However, a penalty complicated his race: he needed to build a gap of at least five seconds over his pursuers to protect his position. Further penalties for repeated track-limits infringements ultimately added to the No. 41's difficulties.
At the finish, the No. 18 delivered a benchmark performance, securing pole position in the overall and Pro-Am standings. The No. 41 initially crossed the line in second place overall, but a subsequent decision by the stewards dropped the car to seventh following repeated track-limits violations.
A frustrating outcome given the pace on display, but one that did not diminish the potential demonstrated by both crews. The team now turned its attention to the final race of the season, determined to finish on a high.
© DPPI Production | Ligier European Series © DPPI Production | Ligier European Series © DPPI Production | Ligier European Series
Race 2: A Stunning One-Two Finish to Round Off the Season
At 2:00 p.m., the final race of the 2026 season got underway on the demanding Portimão circuit. For the No. 18, the objective was clear: fight until the very end and aim for the top step of the podium. Already crowned champions, the No. 41 was equally determined to round off the season with a performance worthy of its title.
Daniel Dallakyan made an excellent start, immediately keeping in touch with the leaders. Anthony Ghibaudo also held his position through the opening stages. On lap two, Daniel launched his attack and overtook Marcus Terkildsen to take the lead. Once at the front, the No. 41 would remain there all the way to the chequered flag.
Daniel gradually extended his advantage, building a lead of more than eight seconds before handing the car over to Antonin Bernard. The French driver continued in the same vein, delivering a consistent and efficient stint to control the race and maintain the gap to the finish. A perfectly executed team performance secured another victory for the No. 41 to close out the season.
For the No. 18, the race required a different approach. Anthony Ghibaudo lost one position in the opening laps but delivered a solid stint, keeping the crew in contention for the podium. The team's strategic decision to make the most of the pit-stop window towards the end of the stint allowed Maxime Aparicio to rejoin the track in third place.
The Pro-Am driver then stepped up the pace. Determined to secure the result, he put Charles Lambert under pressure while expertly defending his position through to the finish. The No. 18 ultimately claimed victory in the Pro-Am category and secured second place overall.
Two crews at the front, a perfectly executed strategy and a final race driven by determination: VSF Sports Racing delivered a remarkable one-two finish to bring its Ligier European Series season to a close.
Two Titles Reward a Season of Teamwork and Dedication
This final round crowns a 2026 season filled with strong performances, valuable lessons and unforgettable moments. With Antonin Bernard and Daniel Dallakyan securing the JS2R Championship title in the No. 41, and Maxime Aparicio and Anthony Ghibaudo finishing as Vice-Champions in the No. 18, VSF Sports Racing places both crews at the top of the overall JS2R standings.
Beyond the results, this achievement reflects the strength of a united team. It rewards the drivers' efforts, the dedication of the mechanics and the entire team, the technical preparation, strategic decisions and everyone's ability to work towards a shared goal.
The VSF Group management can be proud of the progress made and the racing project developed throughout the season. This journey is built on essential values: trust, listening, high standards, performance and shared commitment.
A huge thank you to our four drivers for their determination, to the entire team for their unwavering dedication, to our partners for their trust and continued support, and to all VSF Group employees, whose commitment has played a key role in this achievement.
The 2026 season comes to an end on the top steps of the JS2R podium, but the VSF Sports Racing story doesn't end here. Building on these results and this collective momentum, we are already preparing for what comes next, with the same ambition: to keep improving, delivering results and developing our racing programme.
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