Since the start of the 2022 Master Endurance Legends season, DUQUEINE Team has had many successes. With Stuart Wiltshire, a British amateur driver, as driver, DUQUEINE Team and the blue and red Ligier JSP2, have been on the podium many times (4/7 overall and 7/7 in LMP2 class).
Since the start of the 2022 Master Endurance Legends season, DUQUEINE Team has had many successes. With Stuart Wiltshire, a British amateur driver, as driver, DUQUEINE Team and the blue and red Ligier JSP2, have been on the podium many times (4/7 overall and 7/7 in LMP2 class).
The last ones date back to the weekend of August 14 & 15th . The team was present on the mythical Nürburgring circuit for the 4th round of the Historic Championship. Once again, Stuart's Ligier JSP2 performed well and showed that an amateur can fight and hold off a three-time Le Mans winner.
In the qualifying sessions, Stuart was on Pole Position.
Starting first in race one, Stuart led the race from the first to the second last lap. Despite his efforts to hold off three-time Le Mans winner Marco Werner, Stuart fell behind on the final lap. However, he has nothing to be ashamed of in his second-place finish.
“It was very hard inside the cockpit. I don’t think I could have held off Marco if I hadn’t made that mistake. I’m a 57-year-old amateur, and I’m fat! Marco is a three-time Le Mans winner and a legend – so, no… But you know, this is my first season and I’m enjoying the challenge.” Said Stuart at the end of the 1st race.
For the 2nd race of the weekend, the starting grid was defined by the ranking of race 1. Stuart started 2nd, behind Werner and his Lola B12/80. At the end of the first race, the first three drivers were already neck and neck. Despite Stuart's determination, Werner and his Lola were able to regain a few seconds' lead until the pit stops. On lap 10, Werner and Wiltshire stopped simultaneously. The German had to take his elite driver's penalty, the Briton took advantage of this to get back in front, but did not take the lead, as Trautwein had taken the opportunity to overtake them.
Caught by Werner, Stuart was overtaken, but quickly recovered his second place following the drive through of the German's Lola B12/80. The British driver in his Ligier JSP2 crossed the line in second place.
"I was hanging on for dear life, really," Wiltshire said of not being able to compete towards the end. "These conditions are just not for me. If they ever introduce an Arctic Championship,I’ll be the first to enter that! There was more time in the car but I was genuinely at my limit."
