WTCC France – France
The two races held on the French Pau circuit ended with good results for SEAT Sport and Repsol, as Yvan Muller, Jordi Gené and Rickard Rydell climbed to the podium, giving the factory from Martorelles and the Repsol drivers the lead in the World Championship. The first race was on a dry track, while the second was on a wet track, and in both the SEAT León TDI demonstrated its competitiveness, in spite of the differences in weigth with its rivals.
Gabriele Tarquini, with the heaviest car on the grid, managed to finish in fifth and fourth position, guaranteeing his leadership in the drivers’ classification. And along with his teammates, he collaborated so that the points scored by SEAT give the brand the lead of the constructors’ classification.
1st RACE
After the start, an accident involving a number of cars brought on the red flag as the track was blocked. Pierre Yves Coarthals and Oscar Nogués were forced to withdraw, while Tiago Monteiro’s car was partly damaged. When the race restarted, Farfus had no problem taking off in the lead, while Yvan Muller and Jordi Gené secured second and third position behind him, staying there until the end of the race.
Further back, Gabriele Tarquini and Rickard Rydell struggled with Robert Huff, a fight which was the focus of attention during the race. Near the end of the same, Tarquini was unable to resist the attacks by the Chevrolet driver, who with a much lighter car managed to reach the end of the race with his tyres in better condition. Tarquini and Rydell finally finished in fifth and sixth position.
2nd RACE
The second race was held under torrential rain, which forced the Safety Car to lead the start. Right from the beginning, Priaulx (BMW) and Larini (Chevrolet) took the first two positions, with Rydell, Tarquini and Gené behind them.
Throughout the race and in very difficult conditions due to the rain and the puddles, Rydell kept close to the two leaders, awaiting an error which did not materialise. Tarquini kept a prudent distance, while Gené was forced to make a pitstop to repair a wheel. This gave Yvan Muller the chance to recover a position and finished seventh. Tiago Monteiro managed to recover a number of places after a tough battle with Muller’s BMW and Tom Coronel’s SEAT WTCC, both finishing close to the points range.
Yvan Muller, 2nd and 7th
“It wasn’t such a bad weekend for us, bearing in mind the weight our cars have. But we cannot be satisfied with the results. We could have been further up in the classification, but we’ll have to wait for the race at Brno.”
Rickard Rydell, 6th and 3rd
“I’m very satisfied with my results after my first participation in Pau, and I’ve been able to count on a very efficient car at all times, particularly in wet conditions. I’m happy, also, because the team has done a great job and scored a lot of points.”
Jordi Gené, 3rd and 19th
“The weekend went well for us. We can be pleased. The classification went well for me, as did the first race. In the second I damaged a wheel against a piano. If that hadn’t have happened I would have scored more points.”
Gabriele Tarquini, 5th and 4th
“We have to be positive. With such a heavy car I would have wished for nine points. I think the key to it was yesterday’s great classification. It has given us an unexpected result.”
Tiago Monteiro, 13th and 10th
“I didn’t manage the result I wanted. The races were good for the team, which has scored more points, but not for me, because nothing worked out as it should have. The continuous changes in the weather were very negative.”
