Motorsport 98 returns to the Michelin Le Mans Cup with a Ligier JS P325

While Eric De Doncker has had the opportunity to dabble in many disciplines of international motorsport in recent years, his attraction to prototypes is by no means a secret. That is why Motorsport 98 recently acquired a Ligier JS P325, which is in fact the latest LMP3 from the French manufacturer. Powered by a V6 twin-turbo engine from Toyota, this Ligier is designed for endurance competitions, including the Michelin Le Mans Cup.

‘It will indeed be a great return to this category that I really enjoy,’ comments Eric De Doncker. I had the opportunity to carry out test sessions with this car, notably on the Paul Ricard Circuit, and this new Ligier JS P325 suits me perfectly. I was able to happily lower my lap times, which is a good omen...’

Alongside Eric De Doncker under the Motorsport 98 banner, we will find a young Frenchman from Toul, near Nancy, not far from Belgium: Gillian Henrion. Having competed in the Ligier series, including the JS Cup, he has also competed in the Michelin Le Mans Cup and the European Le Mans Series, and his performances have earned him a very active role in the development of this new JS P325. The least we can say is that Gillian Henrion knows the product!

‘I would like to start by thanking Eric De Doncker and the whole Motorsport 98 team from the bottom of my heart for giving me the opportunity to get back into the Michelin Le Mans Cup,’ says Gillian. At the end of the first day of testing, I already felt at home with this very family-oriented team. Motorsport 98 makes it a point of honour to do things properly, and the relationship with the engineer and the mechanics is already perfect. I'm looking forward to it...’

Eric De Doncker and Gillian Henrion are entered in the LMP3 Pro/Am category, with real ambitions... ‘With Gillian, we want to win this Pro/Am category, as he did two years ago,’ continues Eric De Doncker. Everything will be done to maximise our chances, and we know that in the Michelin Le Mans Cup, it is not necessarily the fastest who win. So we have to get all the parameters right, which is what Motorsport 98 is working on...’

The 2025 Michelin Le Mans Cup will officially begin with the collective tests on 2 April at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, where the first race of the season will take place a few days later. Then it's on to the Circuit Paul Ricard, Road To Le Mans as part of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Spa-Francorchamps, Silverstone and Portimao. Each meeting features a 115-minute race, with a field of more than 40 cars, including countless LMP3s. The tone is set...

The Ligier JS P325 Motorsport 98 of Eric De Doncker and Gillian Henrion will bear the colours of Mannès and AMB. It will of course bear the number #98.