24h Le Mans
The Panis Barthez Compétition team is gearing up for its fourth appearance at the 24 Hours of Le Mans with its #23 Ligier JS P217-Gibson LMP2 driven by René Binder, Julien Canal and Will Stevens. Olivier Panis, who owns the team with Fabien Barthez and Simon Abadie, has lots in the pipeline for 2020, including plans to race two cars at Le Mans.
Last winter, Panis Barthez Compétition took part in the Asian Le Mans Series for the first time. Their performance was rewarded by two podiums, much to the delight of the team’s owner Olivier Panis (alongside Fabien Barthez and Simon Abadie): “We want to do the Asian Le Mans Series again next winter. We’re happy with the way it went last season. It was a great experience, and we’re really keen to do it again, but with two cars.”
Panis Barthez Compétition is also taking part in the 2019 European Le Mans Series with the Ligier JS P217-Gibson. The team wants to pursue the championship and see its contingent make progress at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. “I love this championship. It’s well organised, the bar is set very high, and the races are great – I can’t fault it. We want to keep growing by taking on new challenges and, of course, to have two cars competing at the 24 Hours of Le Mans next year!” says Panis.
The Ligier JS P217-Gibson clocked up 86 laps on the 24 Hours track on Test Day last Sunday, with René Binder, Julien Canal and Will Stevens behind the wheel, putting the French team in 21st place overall and 13th in the LMP2 class.
PHOTO: LE MANS (SARTHE, France), CIRCUIT DES 24 HEURES DU MANS, SUNDAY 2 JUNE 2019, TEST DAY. Panis Barthez Compétition’s #23 Ligier JS P217-Gibson in action on the 2019 24 Hours of Le Mans Test Day.
