Pau, France, 6th May 2014 - Sean Gelael is looking forward to the third round of the FIA Formula 3 European Championship, which takes place over 9th-11th May in the picturesque French town of Pau.
The Pau racing course, which is in the shadow of the nearby Pyrenees mountains, represents the third street circuit of Sean’s career, after last year’s in Norisring and Macau Grand Prix.
Indeed, the third and final race of the weekend in Pau also carries the title of ‘Grand Prix’ – and the Pau Grand Prix is a historic title that was first fought over by those brave pioneers of early motor racing, in 1901!
That was on a very long course on country roads near the town, and it was not until 1933 that the event was revived with its first running on the current street circuit. Until 1963 the Pau Grand Prix was run for the sport’s Formula 1 elite, before switching to the junior categories, and it has been a Formula 3 race for most years since 1999.
After the wide-open straights of Hockenheim, Pau will be a true test of all the drivers. The circuit goes past the town train station, past the school, around a park in which there is a palace, past a statue, and then through a mini-roundabout, which is one of the most critical corners on the track as it leads onto one of the longest straights.
Unfortunately, the race could not be included on last year’s FIA Formula 3 European Championship calendar, meaning that for Gelael this will be the first taste of Pau.
Very few of the drivers have ever driven at Pau, but one is Tom Blomqvist – Sean’s team-mate in the Jagonya Ayam with Carlin team – so both Gelael and fellow team-mate Antonio Giovinazzi will be seeking advice from the British driver!
“We have to do a big preparation for Pau,” said Sean. “The track is very narrow, hilly and twisty – it is like driving the middle sector of Macau for the whole lap, so very challenging!
“You are very close to the walls all the time, but we should be all right. The Carlin team has lots of great video footage for me to study, so I have been watching that.
“In Macau my pace was OK, so I should be quite strong at Pau. I know that the Jagonya Ayam with Carlin team has a good car, with really good mechanical grip that makes it very strong in the tight corners, so I am really looking forward to it.”
He should do, because the famous Pau Grand Prix allows Sean and all his rivals to follow in the wheeltracks of legendary former winners such as Tazio Nuvolari, Juan Manuel Fangio, Jim Clark, Jackie Stewart and Lewis Hamilton. (ms/arl)
