Racing Report: European Championship Title Secured and Second Place to Defend for VSF Sports.
The Silverstone round had all the ingredients of a decisive event: a legendary circuit, packed grandstands and, above all, a first opportunity for VSF Sports Racing to secure the JS2R championship title.
After a weekend marked by strong performances from both cars and a sixth victory for the #41, Daniel Dallakyan, Antonin Bernard and the VSF Sports Racing team secured the Ligier European Series JS2R championship title.
Promising Free Practice Sessions
From the first laps, both crews quickly found their rhythm on the demanding Silverstone circuit.
In FP1, Anthony Ghibaudo set the fastest time of the session, while the #41 of Antonin Bernard and Daniel Dallakyan finished P2 overall.
In FP2, the strong pace continued. VSF Sports Racing’s drivers remained at the sharp end of the JS2R field, with lap times consistently among the top four in class.
The second session was nevertheless cut short by a red flag, preventing Anthony Ghibaudo and Antonin Bernard from completing representative flying laps during their respective stints.
An encouraging start to the weekend ahead of qualifying.
A Closely Contested Qualifying Session
The day intensifies with qualifying for Saturday’s two races.
Anthony Ghibaudo confirms his pace and puts the #18 in P2 for Race 2. Meanwhile, the #41 will start P3 in Race 1, with Antonin Bernard behind the wheel, while Daniel Dallakyan secures P4 for Race 2.
The #18 completes its qualifying sessions with P6 for Maxime Aparicio in Race 1.
Meanwhile, the team has to deal with a mechanical issue on the #41 at the end of the day.
The VSF Sports Racing mechanics continue working late into the evening to get the car ready for the following day’s races.
Race 1: The #41 JS2R Takes the Win
Saturday morning, the #41 takes the start with one clear objective: victory.
Antonin Bernard makes an excellent start and quickly gains ground. From the opening laps, the #41 moves into the lead.
Daniel Dallakyan then takes over and maintains the pace all the way to the chequered flag.
Victory for the #41, securing another JS2R win and further strengthening its championship position.
For the #18, the race is more eventful. Maxime Aparicio fights to hold his position before being forced into a mistake. A fifth track-limits infringement ultimately results in a drive-through penalty for the crew.
Anthony Ghibaudo keeps pushing and sets the fastest lap of the race in 2:10.692. Despite the pace, the penalty prevents the #18 from returning to the podium fight.
The #18 nevertheless finishes P1 in Pro-Am, once again demonstrating its potential on the British circuit.
Race 2: Championship Glory at the Chequered Flag
The final race of the weekend gets underway under an unexpected turn of events. A red flag brings the field to a standstill for more than 20 minutes, delaying the opening stint.
At the start, Daniel Dallakyan once again makes a strong getaway at the wheel of the #41 and quickly moves up to P2.
In the #18, Maxime Aparicio takes a more measured approach, taking time to find his rhythm before pushing forward again.
After the restart, both cars go on the attack. Anthony Ghibaudo shows strong pace, while Daniel Dallakyan sets the rhythm at the front and gradually builds a gap over his closest rivals from pole position.
The stints then continue with Antonin Bernard taking over in the #41 and Maxime Aparicio in the #18. Both drivers maintain their positions through to the chequered flag.
The #41: European JS2R Champions
With this latest victory, the sixth of the season, VSF Sports Racing’s #41 JS2R secures the Ligier European Series JS2R championship title.
Daniel Dallakyan, Antonin Bernard and the entire VSF Sports Racing team are crowned European JS2R champions, following a weekend in which the #41 once again delivered when it mattered most.
The first part of the mission is complete at Silverstone. But the season is not over yet.
The final round of the Ligier European Series will take place on 8–9 October in Portimão, for the season finale.
With the #41 now crowned champions, the focus also shifts to the #18. Anthony Ghibaudo and Maxime Aparicio remain at the top of the Pro-Am standings and sit second overall. After a strong weekend at Silverstone, one final round remains to secure the top two positions in the championship.
See you in Portimão!
Thank you to everyone who supports us!
This title also belongs to the entire team.
Thank you to our partners, the entire VSF Sports Racing team and our supporters for their trust, commitment and support throughout the season.
A collective victory. A European title. And two more races to go.
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