FIA TCR World Tour heads for new grounds and weights at Paul Ricard

The FIA TCR World Tour will race at Paul Ricard in France for the first time this weekend as new weights and Balance of Performance parameters come into force.

Santiago Urrutia has rocketed into the points lead after becoming the first driver in the history of the FIA TCR World Tour to claim a triple win during the past race weekend at Valencia.

The Geely Cyan Racing driver heads the standings on 140 points, 20 more than his team-mate Thed Björk and 29 more than former points leader and Hyundai driver Mikel Azcona.

Urrutia is however expected to struggle this race weekend with 40kg of compensation weight this weekend on top of a 10kg BoP weight increase as well as a power reduction from 97,5% to 95% for the Geely Preface TCR model.

Björk will run with 30kg of compensation weight while Azcona will only carry 10kg.

Azcona’s team-mate Norbert Michelisz is placed fourth overall, just five further points behind, but will run with 20kg of compensation weight.

And the Hyundai Elantra N EV TCR model has also received a 10kg BoP weight increase ahead of this weekend, although remains at 97,5% of power.

Reigning champion Yann Ehrlacher will not carry any compensation weight during his home race after a disastrous previous race weekend where he retired from two of the three races and dropped down to sixth place.

Fellow Frenchman Aurélien Comte heads Paul Ricard after a solid previous weekend in Spain with two podium finishes and is placed fifth overall, 37 points from the top of the standings.

The Frenchman will carry 30kg of compensation weight in his Cupra this weekend which could affect his chances of continuing at the very top.

Comte’s team-mate Jean-Karl Vernay is still recovering from his injury and will not be back for the next round at Vila Real either.

Also missing from the Paul Richard grid is BRC Racing driver Gabriele Covini and GOAT Racing driver Esteban Guerrieri.

SP Competition will field two Cupras this weekend, with Frenchman Gilles Chauvin, who is racing for the team in the FFSA Championnat de France Tourisme, joining Comte.

The total number of entries for the Paul Ricard race weekend is down to 15 cars, with Frenchman Victor Weyrich of Herrero Racing being the only other local French entry alongside Chauvin.

The field will race on the 3,8km layout of Paul Ricard this race weekend which starts on Saturday with two practice sessions and qualifying, followed by two races on Sunday.

FIA TCR World Tour entry list Paul Ricard

13 – Manuel Fernandes – Vannin Motorsport – Audi RS 3 LMS
22 – Gilles Chauvin – SP Compétition – Cupra Leon VZ TCR
24 – Julien Briché – JSB Compétition – Hyundai Elantra N TCR
81 – Damiano Reduzzi – Trico WRT – Hyundai Elantra N TCR
105 – Norbert Michelisz – BRC Hyundai N – Hyundai Elantra N EV TCR +20kg CW
107 – Aurélien Comte – SP Compétition – CUPRA Leon VZ TCR +30kg CW
111 – Thed Björk – Geely Cyan Racing – Geely Preface TCR +30kg CW
121 – Teddy Clairet – ALM Motorsport – Honda Civic Type R FL5 TCR
145 – Raphäel Fournier – JSB Compétition – Hyundai Elantra N TCR
155 – Ma Qing Hua – Geely Cyan Racing – Geely Preface TCR
168 – Yann Ehrlacher – Geely Cyan Racing – Geely Preface TCR
181 – Santiago Uurrutia – Geely Cyan Racing – Geely Preface TCR +40kg CW
196 – Mikel Azcona – BRC Hyundai N – Hyundai Elantra N EV TCR +10kg CW
246 – Jenson Brickley – ALM Motorsport – Honda Civic Type R FL5 TCR
372 – Victor Weyrich – Herrero Racing – Cupra León VZ TCR

Paul Ricard schedule

Times in CEST

Saturday 4/7
09:35 – Free Practice 1
12:00 – Free Practice 2
15:05 – Qualifying

Sunday 5/7
12:40 – Race 1
16:35 – Race 2