Teddy Clairet: “I’m so happy for the team”

Teddy Clairet took an emotional maiden FIA TCR World Tour victory in the second, reversed-grid race at Paul Ricard despite hard pressure from Ma Qing Hua.

“I’m so happy for the team, and all the work we have done,” said Clairet.

The Cupra driver started third but made a strong start to snatch the lead from Ma Qing Hua before the end of the first lap.

“The start was really good. The launch was good, and it’s usually the key in TCR to make a good one because a lot of things can happen until the first turn,” said Clairet.

“I could overtake Fernandes before the first turn, and I could go side by side with Ma on the outside. It’s a tricky maneuver, but I knew that with this kind of driver we can do it because he fights with respect. It was fair, and we gave each other the necessary space.”

Geely driver Ma then started to reel in Clairet towards the end of the race, forcing the Frenchman to defend hard during the last couple of laps.

“Teddy’s pace was really good. He did a good job to manage a good gap to me,” said Ma.

“I was trying to catch, but he was very fast. I don’t know what he did after race one! I think I did a better tyre management so in the end I had a bit more potential to push, so I put the pressure, but he did a really good defending, and anyway my tyres were also gone. I tried to survive and at the same time gain a position, not easy. It was a good race.”

Clairet won the race by just 0.153 seconds in the end.

“Maybe I pushed a bit too hard on the first laps, because I was suffering in the final five laps,” said Clairet.

“He was quicker and joined me for the last two laps. In the end I could get it, but it was good for me that it was the end of the race…”