Races 3+4, Pau - Overcoming adversity in the streets of Pau

May 19, 2002

(Pau, France) - The 62nd running of the Pau Grand Prix, a race which is extremely difficult for all of the drivers who compete over the three day weekend, was made all the more difficult for the 24 Formula Campus Renault Elf drivers, and for the young French-American Emmanuel Crouvisier in particular. Rain poured on the beautiful 2.7 km racetrack for all of the practice and qualifying sessions, further accentuating the difficulty of the racetrack, which already leaves no room for error with guardrails on either side throughout the length of the track.

With no testing available to any teams prior to the weekend, a successful 30 minute practice session on Saturday morning was imperative for good results in the two races. Crouvisier was not to have any luck in the morning however, when after finishing only his second lap, he was hit violently from behind when Frenchman Brice Aracil lost control of his car under braking for the first chicane. Crouvisierメs car suffered extensive damage to the right rear corner of the car, thus requiring several hours of repairs in order to make it drivable again. With only two laps of the track in hand, the qualifying sessions were going to be far from easy..

Thanks to the hard work of the La Filière FFSA mechanics, the broken suspension arms were replaced, the chassis was bent back into shape, and Crouvisier jumped in the car just several minutes from the closing of the pre-grid in order to make the first qualifying session.

With only 15 minutes for the first qualifying session, worsened by being stuck behind a slower driver, Crouvisier was unable to complete any competitive laps, and would have to start 20th for the first race. The second qualifying session was much better, and despite the torrential conditions which continued throughout the session, Crouvisier became much more comfortable with the circuit and was able to post the 8th quickest time.

The clouds finally disappeared later in the day, and the race was held under ideal conditions. Crouvisier made a stellar start, passing four cars before braking for the first hairpin. As the race developed, Crouvisier continued passing cars, working his way up 11 places to finish 9th. The safety car took to the track after a two-car pileup in the last chicane before the front straight, when Benjamin Breton made contact with Florian Boukobza and immediately went airborne, landing on Boukobzaメs car and just narrowly missing his head. Fortunately, no one was injured. The safety car pulled in at the end of the 11th lap, which provided the large number of spectators with a thrilling final lap to the checkered flag.

With none of the drivers having anything to lose during the last race of the weekend, the second race proved to be even more eventful. In the end, seven cars crashed heavily, all but one of which were well behind Crouvisier during the race. After a mediocre start, Crouvisier was able to gain two positions going into the first turn. During the second lap, Mehdi Bennani passed Crouvisier going into the モLycéeヤ turn, forcing Crouvisier to the outside of the track, just inches from the guardrail. Just after exiting the esses at モFochヤ, Constantin Raileanu purposely ran into the back of Crouvisierメs car, pushing him to the outside and enabling Raileanu to pass. Raileanu had sustained damage however, and on the next lap, crashed straight into the wall at the モPont Oscarヤ turn. Crouvisier was then able to resume his attack on Bennani, and several laps later, overtook him going into the kink on the front straight. Crouvisier crossed the checkered flag in 6th place.

After an extremely disappointing first weekend at Magny-Cours, and a very difficult start to the weekend at Pau, Crouvisier was delighted to end the weekend with 8 valuable championship points to his name. Currently in 10th place in the championship, he will undoubtedly continue to climb up the standings.. starting in just two weeks at the legendary Charade racetrack, near Clermont-Ferrand.