11 LMP3 and one Ligier LMP4 started in the fifth race of the Ultimate Cup Series. The Inter Europol Competition #14 Ligier LMP3 with Simon Phillips, Paul Scheuschner and Edward Jonasson, started from 5^th and finished 8^th.

The first hour went smooth, till a flat tyre and a damaged nose forced Scheuschner to pit early. After a quick pitstop for a new front right tyre and a new nose, he could continue. Then an unforced error by Phillips, when in sixth place, landed the car in the gravel. Jonasson, in his stint, tried to catch up, but in the end the #14 crew had to be satisfied with 8^th place.

Paul Scheuschner: “My start was very good and for the first half of my stint I was happy. My lap times were very good and I could keep up with the cars in front of me. But then I locked up on the right front wheel a few times and had to come in a bit early with a flat tyre and damage to the nose. Normally the heat is of no problem for me, so it was unexpected that it drained me so much. Here it bothered me and it was challenging to drive my stint. Thanks to Martin (Hippe, the engineer) and the team the car was really strong.”

Edward Jonasson: “It has been three months since I sat in the car, though it felt much longer than that. We luckily had enough time in the car before the race, to get back into racing mode. I felt comfortable in the car and could put the car on fifth place of the grid. We were a bit unlucky with Paul’s flat tyre and Simon ending up in the gravel. When it was my stint I was really happy to be in the car. Laptimes were good and consistent and that was my goal for the race.”

Simon Phillips: “Getting back in the car after three months wasn’t easy. But I certainly enjoyed it. However, I have to apologise to my team mates that I made a mistake and ended up in the gravel. Nobody to blame but me. A fifth place would have been possible and nice.”

Robert Siska, the 76-year-old American driver, who has been driving in the Formula Renault 2.0 with the team for many years, had three races over the weekend. A total of 19 FR2.0 started in the races.

Siska’s results:

Race 1 start 18 finish 13

Race 2 start 17 finish 15

Race 3 start 13 finish 14

Siska’s next race will be in two weeks in Budapest and then he will be back with the Inter Europol Competition team for the next round of the Ultimate Cup Series (Magny Cours 19-20 October).