Stéphane Clair: “The bet is rather successful”

The event had been awaited for ten years by France and last weekend finally met the expectations of fans of F1. The return of the French Grand Prix, organized on the Paul Ricard track, after 28 years of absence and a victory ofAlain Prost (Ferrari), will remain as one of the dates to remember this year 2018.

Certainly, traffic problems, particularly on Friday, marred the organizational side of the event (a problem on which reflection has already begun for the next edition as recalled by Christian Estrosi, president of the GIP Grand Prix de France), but according to Stephane Clair, director of the circuit, satisfaction predominates over the entire weekend.

« Two or three years ago, many took us for sweet dreamers, and today, the bet is rather successful, admits the manager. Rather, because in the first year, you can't do everything just right. There are corrections to be made. »

Stéphane Clair highlights in particular the fears expressed before the meeting about what the track could offer sportingly. “There were a lot of questions about the quality of the race, the choice of route…

The one who had this idea of ​​chicanery (in the straight line of the Mistral) didn't have a bad idea, given the number of overtakes. The spectators who were there told us: well done because it was one of the important places of the race.

In the Beausset double straight, a mythical place, where supposedly we could not overtake, there were overtakes. Regarding the quality of the coating, we were told that everything was going to come off, that there was no grip... No one complained.

When we look with a little perspective, I think we were right to insist, to believe in our ideas and our analyzes. I am a reassured and moved circuit boss. We will also remember the atmosphere, because the show was quite incredible on the grid, and we showed that we can be innovative. It was a huge gamble, and we can be proud. »

Concerning the straight line chicane, and as we explain in AUTO n°2171hebdo, already available in digital version and on newsstands tomorrow, this could however have to disappear next year.

Looking towards 2019

Nearly 160 spectators, over the four days, came to the Var plateau, to a circuit where the first thoughts for the future are already at work. “We are going to debrief on the surveys that are carried out with spectators, on what we could have provided, specifies Stéphane Clair.

For example, we were chatting with F1 race director Charlie Whiting about entering and exiting the pits.. There are ideas. We are waiting for the three Grands Prix to come together to meet again and discuss. We were probably more ambitious than Charlie imagined. We will listen too. »