Guillaume
in the right tempo
Guillaume
Moreaus fans found reasons to be cheerful in Pau. They
are used to see the driver from Limoges enjoy himself from
«Foch memorial» to «Beaumont Park».
Since his motor racing debuts back in 2002, he has always
been competitive and successful in the streets of Pau. But
we didnt expect the Signature Rookie to be so high on
the result sheets in what was only his second race in Formula
3.
As Loïc Duval finally got his Hockenheims result
back, Guillaumes first championship point was withdrawn.
But he was highly confident in his chance to score brand new
ones in Pau after satisfying free practice sessions «
I was 8th quickest on Thursday afternoon, and happy with it
because pulling the best out of a Formula 3 car here is something
different from what I experienced before. The speed feeling
is incredible, and we brake a lot later. My pedal support
didnt suit me well at the beginning, and after one hour
at the wheel,
I got a blister at the right hand. Fortunately, the local
Red Cross fixed that efficiently, and it didnt disturb
me at all.»
Qualifying practice sessions are crucial on this particular
circuit, and the 23 entries are divided in two groups. Guillaume
is part
of group B, the strongest without doubt. He qualified on row
4 for race 1, and on raw 7 for Sundays race, the official
«65th
Grand Prix de Pau».
On Saturday, Guillaume kept his 7th place at the end of lap
1, after avoiding a collision. Perera and Di Restas
problems soon
offered him 5th position, and Guillaume then began to think
of a plan to pass Di Grassi, a Scottish Renault Driver Development
Program member. He succeeded 4 laps before the chequered flag.
A history repeating, if you remember the way
he took the lead to win Formula Renaults race last year!
The action happened at the «Lycée» hairpin,
where you
can hardly put two cars side by side. Rename the place «Moreau
Corner» could be a good idea! « Lucas was fair
enough to leave enough room. I wanted a top 5, so everyone
at Signature was satisfied I finished 4th and first
Rookie.»
Sundays task was harder. But Guillaumes 13th position
on the grid had but one effect: an even greater motivation!
« My start was good, but Guerrieri took me close to
the wall, so I was forced to lift. It has been an exciting
race, I
overtook Götz at the «Railway Station» corner,
and a few laps later, I was so hot on Neuhauser and Guerrieris
wheels that they finally spun together.» Guillaume then
met his «comrade» Di Grassi. Tenth after tenth,
he got
closer and closer, but not enough to challenge him for 7th
place.
Coming home 8th, Guillaume got another championship point,
won the Rookie category again, caught the lead
of the Rookie Cup and 6th position of the overall provisional
classification. « I coulnt miss this race with
all my friends
and most important sponsors in the grandstands.» But
he has to keep on pushing, and he will face two other
legendary circuits in two consecutive week-ends: Spa-Francorchamps
and Monaco, no more, no less!
Rookies Cup 2005 (after 4/20 races) races): 1 Guillaume Moreau
(F) 33; 2 Sebastian Vettel (D) 30; 3 Atila Abreu (BRA) 27
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