Maxime Potty “satisfied” with first podium of 2019 after comeback drive

Maxime Potty declared himself “satisfied” with his first TCR Europe series podium of the season after fighting back from a poor start to snatch third place on the final lap.

The Team WRT driver started from third on the grid, having inherited a position following Dan Lloyd’s grid demotion, but bogged down his Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR badly off the start, dropping him three positions.

Potty’s superior pace in the closing stages of the race enabled him to overtake Mat’o Homola (Target Competition Hyundai i30 N TCR) and Jimmy Clairet (Team Clairet Sport Peugeot 308TCR) before rounding Aurélien Comte on the outside of Campus on the final tour.

“I analysed the move a lap earlier, but not at that corner, it was for the corner before. I thought I would get alongside him but I ended up getting past,” Potty told TouringCarTimes.

“Aurélien was very good with me as I gave him a little push from behind, but it was very safe and a good little battle.

“I didn’t get a good start and that is my fault, I’m the first to accept that,” Potty said.

“I did all my procedures for the start and then I forgot to engage first gear. So when the lights went out I went nowhere because there was no speed!

“But the fightback was very good and I’m really satisfied to be back on the podium at Spa.”

While Potty was unable to challenge the pair of Audis in front of him, the Belgian was nevertheless happy with the pace of his Golf GTI TCR, and optimistic of another strong performance in Race 2.

“The speed in the car is definitely there and apparently we were matching the times of the two Audis in front,” Potty continued.

“But because the circuit is quite narrow and the margins are dealt with in the tenths of a second, it is difficult to pass.

“It’s good to get the podium, but the aim was always just to score a lot of good points, that’s the most important things. It’s good for Gilles to get a victory at home as well.”