Race Preview: WTCC Hits streets of Pau

Rounds 7 and 8 of the WTCC take place on the streets of Pau this weekend. Pau is located in the South West of France near to the Spanish border. The circuit is 2.760km in length, with 19 laps for each race due to be completed. Chevrolet were strong last year in Pau but with ballast after wins at Valencia they will need to qualify high and defend.

Previously at Pau
Pau entered the calendar in 2007. Race 1 was won Alain Menu in the Chevrolet Lacetti and Race 2 was won by Augusto Farfus in the BMW 320si. Alain Menu dominated the track qualifying on Pole and recording the fastest lap in the race.

Season so far
SEAT started the season on a high, scoring big results. Gabriele Tarquini currently leads the championship with 61 points. At Valencia however it was Chevrolet who were the dominant force. Both Alain Menu and Rob Huff scored a win each and in the second race Rob Huff was able to move from 8th to cross the line second. Rob Huff currently trails Tarquini by only 13 points but will be heavy with success ballast in Pau.

Quotes prior to the race
Jordi Gené – SEAT Sport
“the difficulty of racing with a heavy car on an urban track centres on the moment when the tyres start to wear and a small error can take you out; although on the other hand, the excellent performance of our León TDI makes me believe I’ll achieve the same results as up to now.”

Gabriele Tarquini – SEAT Sport
“Pau is probably the most difficult track of the season; I’m carrying a lot of weight (61 kg), and in addition, we don’t have any background information, since last year we were racing petrol powered cars. Besides, the track is slow and has a lot of curves, which is not the most suitable for our TDI.”

Yvan Muller – SEAT Sport
“it’s a pleasure to race in Pau. Urban tracks are especially appealing, and besides, it’s on home soil. Naturally I’m looking forward to a good result; not only because I’ll be racing at home, but because I need to get more victories. The only thing I can’t predict is the car’s performance since it has never been driven there. We’ll have to see how well it does on this track.”

Andy Priaulx – BMW Team UK
“Considering our results in the previous events, I hope we shall be able to turn the tables in Pau. And I’m confident, as I shall travel to France with clearly less handicap weight on board my car than I had last year. Overtaking in Pau is really difficult. Therefore, a good grid position is particularly important there.”

Jörg Müller – BMW Team Germany
“For me, last year’s races in Pau didn’t run as well as I had hoped they would. However, I still love this track – as I do every street circuit. On top of that, I won the Formula 3000 round held there in 1996. In several of the corners on this circuit you have to drive over extremely high curbs. That’s a peculiarity you hardly find on any other street track.”

Augusto Farfus – BMW Team Germany
“This circuit definitely is one of my favourite venues. It’s like a mini version of Monaco’s Formula One circuit. Pau also gives you the feeling you are staying at a very special location. Having made it to the podium last year – despite rolling the car in qualifying – was a unique experience.”

Félix Porteiro – BMW Team Italy-Spain
“In Pau last year I drove in my maiden WTCC race on a street circuit – and made it into the points at my first attempt. In the second race I was even in reach of a podium finish. After my disappointing home races in Spain, I’m quite happy with the rather short break between the two events.”

Alessandro Zanardi – BMW Team Italy-Spain
“The second race in Pau last year was fun. From the back of the grid I managed to improve lap by lap. However, I finished in the thankless ninth position. The same as on all street circuits, overtaking is difficult in France. But there are some sections of the track where it’s worth having a try.”

Schedule – Sunday 1 June (Subject to change)
08.30 – Warm Up
12.05 – Race 1
15.50 – Race 2