Kunzle, Madsen Deliver First Pole and Victory for new Ligier JS2 RS at Nürburgring

Adrian Kunzle and Kevin Madsen delivered a landmark result for Ligier at the Michelin 12H of Nürburgring, securing the first significant pole position and race victory for the new 650-horsepower Ligier JS2 RS in global competition.

NÜRBURGRING, Germany — Driving for Denmark-based Keo Racing in the GTX class, Kunzle and Madsen capped an impressive weekend for Ligier’s newest GT platform by putting the JS2 RS on pole before converting that qualifying performance into victory over 12 hours of demanding endurance racing at the Nürburgring Grand Prix circuit.

The result marked an important milestone for a car still in the early stages of its competitive development and continued an impressive run of endurance racing success for Kunzle and Madsen.

The pairing arrived in Germany already sharing considerable experience with Ligier machinery. Together, they have spent much of the 2026 World Racing League season fighting at the front of the national championship aboard the STAK Racing Ligier JS2R. Kunzle also previously competed in VP Racing SportsCar Challenge competition in the Ligier JSP320, while Madsen’s history with the manufacturer includes a 2023 European championship in the Ligier JSP4 and a 2024 American championship in the Ligier JS2R.

That familiarity made the opportunity to help introduce Ligier’s newest and most powerful GT platform particularly meaningful.

“What an amazing experience! Thank you, Creventic, for putting on an incredible event. Huge appreciation goes to Keo Racing and Ligier for all the hard work they put in to get the JS2 RS running for the race. It's going to be an incredible car. Finally thanks to Kevin and the team at Madsen Motorsports for making it a really enjoyable few days in Germany.”

— Adrian Kunzle

The Nürburgring provided a formidable proving ground for the new car. Periods of rain created changing grip levels throughout the event, while multiclass traffic and several significant incidents—including a major Porsche Cup Car accident at Turn 1—added to the challenge of surviving 12 hours at one of motorsport’s most famous venues.

Through it all, the JS2 RS demonstrated both its pace and its potential. Madsen was even able to work his way through GT3 traffic at times, offering a glimpse of the performance available from Ligier’s new platform.

But as with any completely new race car, the weekend was about more than outright speed. It was also an opportunity to learn, develop and provide feedback that can help unlock more of the JS2 RS as the program evolves.

“In the end I'm very happy we got Ligier and Keo Racing these results under their belt with a brand spanking new car but maybe even more importantly doing a 12-hour race at the Nürburgring is an incredible way to learn more about the JS2 RS. The car has a huge amount of potential, but it’s also still very early in its development. That’s part of why I was excited to get the call. I’ve spent many years working as a test and development driver, and I really enjoy getting into a new platform, figuring out what it needs and helping move it forward. We learned a lot this weekend, and the exciting part is knowing there’s still a lot more we can extract. Huge thanks to Adrian, our Madsen Motorsports crew, Ligier, and Kim and everyone at Keo Racing for trusting me to be part of it.”

— Kevin Madsen

The victory also adds to an impressive stretch of endurance success for Kunzle and Madsen as teammates. The pair earned their first overall Creventic 24H Series victory at the 2025 Apex Sebring 10 Hour aboard a Turner Motorsport BMW M4 GT3 before claiming GT4 class victory together at the 2026 Bathurst 12 Hour.

At the Nürburgring, however, the story extended beyond another trophy. The Ligier JS2 RS represents a major step forward from the successful JS2R platform. At its heart is a 3.5-liter Ford EcoBoost twin-turbo V6 producing up to 650 horsepower, paired with a six-speed SADEV sequential gearbox and paddle-shift system. Built around a carbon monocoque, the JS2 RS combines significantly increased performance with advanced aerodynamics, pushrod suspension, Brembo braking, adjustable Bosch ABS and traction control, and systems designed for the demands of professional endurance competition.

At the Michelin 12H of Nürburgring, that new package faced an appropriate first major endurance test: outright qualifying speed, changing weather, heavy multiclass traffic and 12 hours of racing.

The result was pole position and victory.

For Ligier, Keo Racing, Kunzle and Madsen, the weekend represents an important early chapter in the story of the JS2 RS—and perhaps more importantly, a glimpse of how much potential remains to be unlocked.

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