Julien Paget wins the FFSA TC France title at Paul Ricard

Julien Paget has been crowned the FFSA TC France champion at the season finale at Circuit Paul Ricard, claiming victory in Race 1, followed by a string of three podium finishes which saw the CUPRA racer claim the title with one race to spare ahead of main rival Sylvain Pussier.

Sébastien Thome, who only joined the series from the second event, was a realistic contender for the title after an incredible season since joining the grid in a Team Clairet Sport Audi RS 3 LMS, but his title challenge came to a dramatic end in the first race.

At the end, Paget won the title 20 points clear of Pussier, and 27.5 ahead of Thome.

Race 1 – Thome started from pole position ahead of Giovanni Scamardi who made a bad start. Him, Paget and Gilles Chauvin cut the first corner as the field bottled up, leaving Thome in the lead ahead of Paget and Scamardi. The safety car was called for an incident in a lower class, before resuming on lap 4, with Scamardi overtaking Paget. Thome was able to pull away, as Scamardi and Paget continued scrapping over second, but on lap 8 Thome’s Audi’s front-right suspension broke and he retired. Scamardi was in the lead, but only for two laps before Paget overtook him, with Scamardi quickly pulling aside to let his teammate Pussier through.

Race 2 – Thome again was on pole, this time ahead of SP teammates Pussier and Scamardi. Thome led at the start, while Chauvin, from P5 on the grid, briefly took over the lead as he cut the first chicane, but then gave back the positions he had gained. Paget was up to second at the end of lap one ahead of Pussier, while Thome continued to build his lead. Pussier overtook Paget on lap 4, with Scamardi following him through up to third. Thome was unstoppable and won the race by 3.3 seconds over Pussier, but both Pussier and Scamardi were handed five-second penalties which dropped them to fourth and fifth, with Paget and Chauvin promoted to the final podium positions. The drivers’ title was now between Paget and Pussier, with Thome out of contention.

Race 3 – Thome and Scamardi shared the front row, with Paget chasing the title from P4 on the grid. Thome went side-by-side with Scamardi through T1, with Scamardi cutting the chicane and emerging in the lead ahead of Pussier. Thome was down to third but repassed Pussier for second. Thome and Scamardi swapped positions a couple of times before the Audi driver broke away, while Scamardi, in order to aid Pussier’s title bid, allowed him through to second. Paget pounced on the opportunity and overtook Scamardi. Thome won race by nine seconds over Pussier, while Paget completed the podium and secured the title.

Race 4 – Thome started from the pole ahead of Pussier, Paget, and Scamardi. Scamardi passed Paget for third into T1, while Thome led the way ahead of Pussier. With the title over and Scamardi showing more pace, Pussier allowed his Belgian teammate through at the end of the opening lap. Scamardi, on a more suitable set of tyres for the track that was drying, overtook Thome for the lead on lap 5. Behind them, Paget got ahead of Pussier for third, and from this point on Scamardi controlled the race, going on to win 11.6 seconds clear ahead of Thome. Paget was right behind Thome at the finish, securing his 20th podium finish in 22 starts.

Le Castellet – Race 1

1. Julien Paget (Optimum Racing ASM, CUPRA Leon Competición), 11 laps
2. Sylvain Pussier (SP Compétition, CUPRA Leon VZ), 0.355
3. Giovanni Scamardi (SP Compétition, CUPRA Leon VZ), 0.836

Le Castellet – Race 2

1. Sébastien Thome (Team Clairet Sport, Audi RS 3 LMS), 11 laps
2. Julien Paget (Optimum Racing ASM, CUPRA Leon Competición), 5.079
3. Gilles Chauvin (SP Compétition, CUPRA Leon Competición), 6.337

Le Castellet – Race 3

1. Sébastien Thome (Team Clairet Sport, Audi RS 3 LMS), 12 laps
2. Sylvain Pussier (SP Compétition, CUPRA Leon VZ), 9.083
3. Julien Paget (Optimum Racing ASM, CUPRA Leon Competición), 9.481

Le Castellet – Race 4

1. Giovanni Scamardi (SP Compétition, CUPRA Leon VZ), 10
2. Sébastien Thome (Team Clairet Sport, Audi RS 3 LMS), 11.634
3. Julien Paget (Optimum Racing ASM, CUPRA Leon Competición), 12.030

Championship points

1. J. Paget, 213 pts; 2. S. Pussier, 193; 3. S. Thome, 185.5

Picture: SRO