The Porsche Sprint Challenge France returns to Lédenon

The two previous editions of the Porsche Sprint Challenge France had started in Nogaro, making this return to the Gard as refreshing as it was demanding. With its winding, hilly, counterclockwise route – a rarity in France – Lédenon leaves no one indifferent. Between capricious weather conditions, unpredictable Mistral winds, and Cévennes storms, this circuit has a well-established reputation: it is as educational as it is selective.

For this 2025 launch, 37 Porsche were at the start: a majority of 992 GT3 Cup in the Cup Series category (17 cars), and a good contingent of 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport (11 entered) for the Sport Cup Series. Note that some drivers registered for the entire season had skipped this meeting in order to prepare for the big deadline of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, highlight of the year.

The grids were divided into two age groups: “Super” for drivers born after 1970, and “Master” for those born before, thus ensuring greater fairness.

Sport Cup Series: triumphant youth then revenge for the old guard

The young drivers dominated the first qualifying session of the Sport Cup Series. Julien Nuss (Rempp Racing) took pole position, a tenth ahead of Frédéric Perriat (Racing Technology), followed by Luc Remmy (Rempp Racing). The first Master, Franck Leherpeur (Autovitesse), took sixth place, while Jean Olive (CG Motorsport) led the GT4 class, finishing eleventh overall.

The dynamics changed in the second session: the veterans took their revenge, with Leherpeur winning ahead of Stéphane Brémard (Racing Technology), with youngster Julien Goujat (Riviera Motorsport) completing the podium. Olive confirmed his leadership in GT4.

Cup Series: Blugeon hits hard in qualifying

In the Cup Series, Victor Blugeon (ABM) proved uncompromising with two consecutive pole positions. Behind him, Alexandre Lacour (Schumacher IMSA) and Arthur Rasse (MRS) completed the top three, while Gilles Colombani (ABM), the first Master, finished seventh. In the 991 Cup, Marc Boithiot (BPS Racing) shone with a sixteenth position. Miche Ettouati (Schumacher IMSA), in a 997, set a fine twelfth fastest time in the second session.

Lively races despite sometimes misleading rankings

The first round of the Sport Cup Series saw the top six finish in qualifying order. The gaps were tight, particularly between Nuss and Perriat (2 seconds), and between Hirschi and Malerba (4 tenths after 30 minutes of racing), reflecting the tension on the track.

The second race was marked by the spectacular comeback of Elie Dubelly (Autovitesse), who started last and climbed to fourth place and second among the young drivers. Victory went to Franck Leherpeur ahead of Brémard and Remmy. In GT4, Béatrice Cibien (Gautier Ebel Motorsport) triumphed masterfully, taking advantage of her fluid and precise style inherited from the car.

Cup Series: Close battles and hefty penalties

In the first race, Blugeon led before receiving a 5-second penalty for breaking track limits. This benefited Arthur Rasse, who was declared the winner. Jean-Philippe Lamic completed the podium. Frédéric Ancel won the Masters ahead of Grégory Rasse and Laurent Misbach. Ettouati (997) finished eleventh and Boithiot (991) fifteenth.

The gaps were minimal: Ancel/Lacour (5 tenths), Vince/Misbach and Ettouati/Charpentier all fought superb battles.

The second race was cleaner in terms of penalties, except for Yann Didry (Schumacher CLRT), who was demoted from 3rd to 13th place due to 75 seconds being imposed. Blugeon then won the race ahead of Louis Meric and Ancel, once again the best Master. Misbach and Grégory Rasse completed the podium of veterans. Ettouati repeated his performance in eleventh position while Boithiot maintained his authority over the 991s.

Cup Series Race 1 Standings

1. RASSE Arthur (992-S / MRS): 22 laps in 30:35.164

2. BLUGEON Victor (992-S / ABM) at 2.041

3. LAMIC Jean Philippe (992-S / VIC' TEAM) at 15.774

4. ANCEL Frédéric (992-M / ANCEL MOTORSPORT) at 21.646

5. LACOUR Alexandre (992-S / SCHUMACHER IMSA) at 22.145

6. MERIC Louis (992-S / LM31) at 26.149

7. RASSE Grégory (992-M / MRS) at 37.567

8. VINCE Anthony (992-S / MAS RACING) at 38.326

9. MISBACH Laurent (992-M / RACING TECHNOLOGY) at 38.698

10. CHOTARD François (992-S / CHOTARD TEAM) at 59.272

11. ETTOUATI Michel (R / SCHUMACHER IMSA) at 1:21.752

12. VANWYNSBERGHE Marc (992-M / 911 IMPACT) at 1:21.999

13. CHARPENTIER Guillaume (992-S / AUTOVITESSE) at 1:22.747

14. COCHARD Laurent (992-M / RACING TECHNOLOGY) 1 lap behind

15. BOITHIOT Marc (991 / BPS RACING) 1 lap behind

16. ZIEGLER Michael (992-S / RSR) 1 lap down

17. DROUGARD Mickael (991 / 2M COMPETITION) 1 lap behind

18. CHOTARD Roland (991 / CHOTARD TEAM) 1 lap behind

19. RICAUD Laurent (991 / CUDENNEC D&P) at 1 turn

20. BARIL Thierry (992-M / CUDENNEC D&P) 2 rounds

21. CAUME Jacques (R / GARAGE BOURGOIN) with 4 towers

22. WILLMANN Franck (992-S / ABM) at 4 laps

NC. COLOMBANI Gilles (992-M / ABM) at 16 rounds

Cup Series Race 2 Standings

1. BLUGEON Victor (992-S / ABM): 22 laps in 30:28.794

2. MERIC Louis (992-S / LM31) at 14.750

3. ANCEL Frédéric (992-M / ANCEL MOTORSPORT) at 19.114

4. CHOTARD François (992-S / CHOTARD TEAM) at 21.549

5. RASSE Alexandre (992-S / MRS) at 22.160

6. MISBACH Laurent (992-M / RACING TECHNOLOGY) at 38.554

7. RASSE Grégory (992-M / MRS) at 39.585

8. COLOMBANI Gilles (992-M / ABM) at 40.285

9. VINCE Anthony (992-S / MAS RACING) at 42.165

10. LAMIC Jean Philippe (992-S / VIC' TEAM) at 43.376

11. ETTOUATI Michel (R / SCHUMACHER IMSA) at 1:22.705

12. PELLETIER Patrick (992-M / RACING TECHNOLOGY) at 1:24.797

13. DIDRY Yann (992-S / SCHUMACHER IMSA) at 1:33.445

14. VANWYNSBERGHE Marc (992-M / 911 IMPACT) 1 lap behind

15. ZIEGLER Michael (992-S / RSR) 1 lap down

16. BOITHIOT Marc (991 / BPS RACING) 1 lap behind

17. CHOTARD Roland (991 / CHOTARD TEAM) 1 lap behind

18. DROUGARD Mickael (991 / 2M COMPETITION) 1 lap behind

19. RICAUD Laurent (991 / CUDENNEC D&P) at 1 turn

20. BARIL Thierry (992-M / CUDENNEC D&P) 1 lap behind

21. WILLMANN Franck (992-S / ABM) at 4 laps

NP. CAUME Jacques (R / GARAGE BOURGOIN)

EXC. CARPENTER Guillaume (992-S / AUTOVITESSE)

Sport Cup Series Race 1 Standings

1. NUSS Julien (718 RS-S / REMPP RACING): 21 laps in 30:16.635

2. PERRIAT Frédéric (718 RS-S / RACING TECHNOLOGY) at 2.596

3. REMMY Luc (718 RS-S / REMPP RACING) at 20.612

4. BOUCHE Fabian (718 RS-S / REMPP RACING) at 29.240

5. CARMINATI Jean-Charles (718 RS-S / RIVIERA MOTORSPORT) at 40.294

6. DUBELLY Ellie (718 RS-S / AUTOVITESSE) at 44.754

7. LEHERPEUR Franck (718 RS-M / AUTOVITESSE) at 1:04.694

8. GIRARDOT Stéphane (718 RS-M / CG MOTORSPORT) at 1:13.318

9. HIRSCHI Pierre (718 RS-M / HIRSCHI RALLY TEAM) at 1:20.398

10. MALERBA Bruno (718 RS-S / PV TECH) at 1:20.786

11. OLIVE Jean (GT4 / CG MOTORSPORT) 1 lap behind

12. DURAND Mathias (718 RS-M / RACING TECHNOLOGY) at 1 lap

13. CIBIEN Béatrice (GT4 / GAUTIER EBEL MOTORSPORT) 1 lap behind

14. AUCH-HISIGER Claude (GT4 / GAUTIER EBEL MOTORSPORT) at 2 laps

Sport Cup Series Race 2 Standings

1. LEHERPEUR Franck (718 RS-M / AUTOVITESSE): 21 laps in 30:46.323

2. BREMARD Stéphane (718 RS-M / RACING TECHNOLOGY) at 2.038

3. REMMY Luc (718 RS-S / REMPP RACING) at 2.140

4. DUBELLY Ellie (718 RS-S / AUTOVITESSE) at 14.423

5. GOUJAT Julien (718 RS-S / RIVIERA MOTORSPORT) at 15.809

6. BOUCHE Fabian (718 RS-S / REMPP RACING) at 18.886

7. NUSS Laurent (718 RS-M / REMPP RACING) at 21.813

8. HIRSCHI Pierre (718 RS-M / HIRSCHI RALLYE TEAM) at 35.377

9. MALERBA Bruno (718 RS-S / PV TECH) at 46.654

10. PROUST Thierry (718 RS-M / CG MOTORSPORT) at 1:00.574

11. CIBIEN Béatrice (GT4 / GAUTIER EBEL MOTORSPORT) 1 lap behind

12. OLIVE Jean (GT4 / CG MOTORSPORT) 1 lap behind

13. DURAND Mathias (718 RS-M / RACING TECHNOLOGY) at 1 lap

14. AUCH-HISIGER Claude (GT4 / GAUTIER EBEL MOTORSPORT) at 2 laps

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