Alba Vazquez returns to the Iberian Supercars podium with third in Valencia
Alba Vazquez continued her competitive campaign in the 2026 Iberian Supercars Championship with another strong result at Valencia’s Circuit Ricardo Tormo, securing another GTX podium with the #22 Petrogold Ligier JS2R shared with Scott Marsh.
Alba Vazquez continued her competitive campaign in the 2026 Iberian Supercars Championship with another strong result at Valencia’s Circuit Ricardo Tormo, securing another GTX podium with the #22 Petrogold Ligier JS2R shared with Scott Marsh.
In her first season with the Ligier machinery, the Spanish driver has steadily competed among the leading GTX contenders, building on a promising debut at Portimão before producing one of her strongest weekends of the season so far at Jarama, where she scored podium finishes in both races and demonstrated race-winning pace. Valencia once again confirmed that progress, with Vazquez and Marsh showing strong speed throughout the weekend before claiming a third-place GTX finish in Sunday’s second race.
The #22 Ligier immediately showed encouraging pace during the three collective test sessions at Ricardo Tormo. Vazquez and Marsh placed fifth in GTX in the opening session with a 1:45.834, before moving up to second in the second collective test with a 1:44.631, just one tenth away from the overall benchmark. They maintained that position in the final session, recording a 1:44.682 to highlight the competitiveness of the Ligier ahead of qualifying.
Marsh took over qualifying duties for Q1 and set a 1:44.193, putting the #22 sixth overall and fifth in the GTX class, while Vazquez was behind the wheel for Q2 and posted a 1:45.870 to qualify 11th overall and seventh in class.
Race 1 saw Marsh take the start from fifth in GTX and initially retain his position, although the order began to change rapidly in the opening laps. Santos held his position while Loureiro made several early gains, eventually passing Marsh on the second lap to move into fourth in GTX. Marsh responded strongly, however, fighting his way back past the McLaren to reclaim fourth, and soon began to establish a gap as he circulated in the 1:44.3s.
The battle was interrupted by a Safety Car when Loureiro went off at Turn 2 in the #47 McLaren, sustaining front suspension damage. Racing resumed on lap eight with Marsh still fourth in GTX and now closing the gap to Iribas ahead, bringing the #22 into contention for a potential podium position as the driver-change window approached.
A second Safety Car, triggered by the #21 Porsche going off at Turn 1, further compressed the field before racing resumed ahead of the pit window. Marsh remained on track longer than some of his rivals and consequently moved up to third in GTX before bringing the Ligier into the pits on lap 14, handing the car over to Vazquez.
Vazquez rejoined the race in fifth in GTX and moved up to fourth as the pit cycle settled, although the #22 lost one position overall to the Cup-class Porsche of Lancheres. With some competitors under investigation for shorter pit stops times, the class order remained fluid, but Vazquez showed strong pace once she had settled into her stint, pulling away from the cars behind while gradually reducing the gap to Santos.
The Spanish driver was unable to retain fourth as Acosta came through to take the position on lap 20. Vazquez then came under increasing pressure from Santos, who eventually reclaimed fifth in GTX from Vazquez on lap 24, leaving the #22 to finish sixth in class.
While Race 1 ended without the podium result the team had been targeting, the performance of the Ligier remained encouraging, and Vazquez had another opportunity to fight at the front in Sunday's second race.
Vazquez started Race 2 from 11th overall and seventh in GTX, but immediately gained a position when Jemma Moore encountered a technical problem before the start and was forced to take the start from the pit lane. Vazquez therefore moved into sixth in class and quickly settled into a battle for fifth, setting a 1:49.4 while closing on Santiago Ribeiro and the Porsche Cayman ahead.
The race was neutralized on lap five when overall leader Teixeira became stranded, bringing out the Safety Car. Vazquez remained sixth in GTX, with Moore having already recovered to seventh after her pit-lane start. Once the race returned to green on lap seven, Moore made her way past Vazquez for sixth, but the #22 driver continued to fight and regained a position on lap nine with a strong pass on Elsworth.
As the pit window opened, Vazquez brought the Ligier into the pits on lap 12 from fourth in GTX, having moved forward strongly during her stint. Marsh took over for the second half of the race and rejoined fifth in class, immediately showing competitive pace with a 1:47.612.
The race was interrupted again when the #125 Ginetta of Antonio Almeida spun and came to a stop in the middle of the circuit, prompting another Safety Car. The neutralization worked in the #22's favour, allowing Marsh to move up to fourth in GTX before the field was released for the final ten minutes.
There was however further drama shortly afterwards when Iribas and Huber made contact while battling for second, with Huber ending up in the gravel and another Safety Car being deployed. Marsh was consequently promoted to third in GTX and overall, putting the #22 Ligier in position to fight for another class podium.
Racing resumed with only two minutes remaining, producing a tense final sequence as Marsh immediately found himself in a battle with Cacoilo for third. The two drivers ran extremely close through the opening corners, but Marsh held his ground and secured third place in GTX at the chequered flag, completing another podium finish for the #22 Petrogold Ligier and giving Vazquez another GTX podium.
The Valencia weekend therefore continued the Spanish driver's upward trajectory in Iberian Supercars.
The championship will now head to Jerez for the season's next round on November 6-8, where Vazquez will look to continue her fight near the front of the GTX field.
