Dive back into the high-speed world with me as I took another whirl at the Ringmaster RIGMOTEC Series, steering the Ligier JSP 320 this time around. Typically referred to as an LMP, this beast of a car and I, unfortunately, did not see eye to eye. The primary culprit? Its right-sided steering wheel—a design choice that I simply couldn’t reconcile with. Despite this setback, my dedication didn’t wane as I spent two full days in training, honing my skills and familiarizing myself with the car’s quirks.
When race day dawned, I was met with a Strength of Field (SoF) of a modest 2107. Having committed to a qualifying session, I secured a fifth-place start—a position that promised potential. However, the reality of the race was a stark contrast to my aspirations. After an eventful race, which saw me completing only one out of three laps due to pit stops, I crossed the finish line in fourteenth place. My racing statistics took a tangible hit, with my iRating dropping by 41 points and my Safety Rating decreasing by 0.27.
To add insult to injury, an expected gesture of sportsmanship was conspicuously absent—Sascha Geier offered no apologies for the day’s events. Such moments remind us that character, or a lack thereof, can significantly influence our experiences.
Reflecting on this episode, it’s clear that the Ligier JSP 320 and I are not a compatible match. It’s a chapter of my racing career that I’m unlikely to revisit anytime soon. Not every car suits every driver, and this particular model is just not for me. Nonetheless, the adrenaline rush and the immersive experience provided by my D-Box Full Motion Simulator salvaged some enjoyment from the ordeal.
Catch all the action in the concise video summary of the race day. It’s shorter than usual but packed with all the pivotal moments. And as we turn the page on this experience, I look forward to cleaner laps and more congenial matchups at the Mazda Cup.
Stay tuned for more racing adventures by subscribing and turning on notifications. Let’s keep the passion for racing alive together!
| Fin Pos | Name | Start Pos | Interval | Average Lap Time | Fastest Lap Time | Inc | Club | New iRating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Berkay Besler | 1 | -00.000 | 6:16.622 | 6:15.037 | 1 | International Club | 4300 |
| 2 | Jeremy Fridd | 2 | -08.008 | 6:19.291 | 6:17.484 | 0 | Australia/NZ | 2332 |
| 3 | Nikiel Taylor | 9 | -23.585 | 6:24.481 | 6:19.639 | 1 | Northwest | 2235 |
| 4 | Luka Gessmann | 8 | -26.386 | 6:25.415 | 6:21.009 | 0 | DE-AT-CH | 2578 |
| 5 | Will Whitelaw | 4 | -27.145 | 6:25.670 | 6:21.915 | 3 | Texas | 2650 |
| 6 | Benjamin Leavold | 20 | -37.023 | 6:28.958 | 6:21.639 | 8 | Australia/NZ | 1636 |
| 7 | Nicholas Calhoon | 15 | -44.263 | 6:31.370 | 6:22.737 | 0 | West | 1996 |
| 8 | Benjamin D George | 16 | -51.606 | 6:33.820 | 6:26.541 | 7 | France | 1791 |
| 9 | Connor Bryan | 21 | -59.321 | 6:36.390 | 6:22.593 | 1 | Midwest | 1599 |
| 10 | David Mull | 14 | -1:16.416 | 6:42.088 | 6:32.273 | 5 | New Jersey | 1978 |
| 11 | Sascha Geier | 7 | -1 L | 6:25.412 | 6:21.365 | 8 | DE-AT-CH | 2666 |
| 12 | Cale W James | 18 | -1 L | 6:34.659 | 9 | Australia/NZ | 1716 | |
| 13 | Frederik Schumacher | 3 | -1 L | 10:08.286 | 6 | DE-AT-CH | 1963 | |
| 14 | Philipp Geppl | 5 | -1 L | 11:19.099 | 7 | DE-AT-CH | 2481 | |
| 15 | Jonas Salm | 19 | -1 L | 13:46.390 | 14 | DE-AT-CH | 1665 | |
| 16 | Michael Murphree | 17 | -2 L | 6:39.181 | 7 | Mid-South | 1695 | |
| 17 | Marcus Hankey | 13 | -2 L | 8:37.904 | 8 | Australia/NZ | 1990 | |
| 18 | Hervé Guidotti | 12 | -2 L | 8:41.405 | 6 | France | 1983 | |
| 19 | Kanyachan Aekkomchodthana | 6 | -3 L | 00.000 | 4 | Asia | 2176 | |
| 20 | Brenton Kaitler | 10 | -3 L | 00.000 | 9 | Australia/NZ | 2042 | |
| 21 | Jose De Jesus Colon | 11 | -3 L | 00.000 | 3 | Virginias | 2028 |
