Three different winners in TC France at Magny-Cours

The four races of the FFSA TC France at Nevers Magny-Cours resulted in three different winners: Sébastien Thome (Team Clairet, Audi) won the first and the third, Julien Paget (Optimum Racing ASM, CUPRA Leon) the second and Benjamin Mosson (Team Clairet, CUPRA Leon VZ) the fourth on his maiden TCR appearance.

These results mean that Paget is now leading the standings by nine points over Sylvain Pussier (SP Compétition, CUPRA Leon VZ), while Thome has entered in contention having reduced his gap from the leader to 31 points.

Race 1 – Paget and Pussier shared the front row, but they were both passed by Thome during the first lap; Pussier overtook Paget for second in lap 2, but Paget retook the position in the following lap. The gaps among the first three drivers grew until the safety car was deployed in lap 8 to recover a pair of cars from other classes that had stopped along the track. When racing resumed in lap 11, Thome held on to the lead, while Paget rejected an assault from Pussier to finish second.

Race 2 – Paget was on pole again with series newcomer Mosson alongside. At the start, Paget led the field, while Pussier overtook Mosson on the first lap. Mosson tried to retake second in lap 2, but him and Pussier clashed with Mosson spinning off onto the gravel. The safety car was deployed, and the race restarted on lap 5 with Paget chased by Thome, Thomas Leal and Pussier. Thome made a mistake and lost a couple of places, while Pussier passed Leal climbing to second. Leal had to defend third from Thome, but in lap 8 he went wide and dropped behind his rival. There were no further changes: Paget won from Pussier and Thome.

Race 3 – At the start, Paget led from the pole while Thome jumped from P3 on the grid to second ahead of Pussier and then overtook Paget before the safety car was deployed after a GT car had crashed into the pit wall. Racing resumed on lap 5, with Paget putting the pressure on Thome who resisted and claimed another win with Pussier completing the podium.

Race 4 – Paget led from the pole followed by Mosson and Pussier; during the first lap, Leal and Thome came together and dropped down, while the safety car was deployed to recover a GT car that hab been collected by Leal. At the restart, Paget was under pressure from Mosson, while Pussier lost contact from the leading pair. Mosson kept on pushing and eventually stole the lead from Paget in lap 8. Behind them, Thome had recovered up to fourth and overtook Pussier for third in lap 10.

The next event will be on 13/15 September at Dijon-Prenois.

Magny-Cours – Race 1

1. Sébastien Thome (Team Clairet Sport, Audi RS 3 LMS), 13 laps
2. Julien Paget (Optimum Racing ASM, CUPRA Leon Competición), 1.793
3. Sylvain Pussier (SP Compétition, CUPRA Leon VZ), 3.105

Magny-Cours – Race 2

1. Julien Paget (Optimum Racing ASM, CUPRA Leon Competición), 13 laps
2. Sylvain Pussier (SP Compétition, CUPRA Leon VZ), 7.114
3. Sébastien Thome (Team Clairet Sport, Audi RS 3 LMS), 8.064

Magny-Cours – Race 3

1. Sébastien Thome (Team Clairet Sport, Audi RS 3 LMS), 12 laps
2. Julien Paget (Optimum Racing ASM, CUPRA Leon Competición), 1.704
3. Sylvain Pussier (SP Compétition, CUPRA Leon VZ), 4.185

Magny-Cours – Race 4

1. Benjamin Mosson (Dijon Racing/Team Clairet, CUPRA Leon VZ), 13 laps
2. Julien Paget (Optimum Racing ASM, CUPRA Leon Competición), 2.852
3. Sébastien Thome (Team Clairet Sport, Audi RS 3 LMS), 11.947

Championship points

1. J. Paget, 139 pts; 2. S. Pussier, 130; 3. S. Thome, 108

Picture: SRO