The discovery of the TCR by the SLR

With Grégory Guilvert, official driver Peugeot Sport, and Jimmy Clairet at the wheel, the Alsatian team took its first steps in the discipline on this occasion. First steps which, on the Spa-Francorchamps circuit, resulted in two lively races against a field of specialists, the two cars reaching the finish each time. Enough to learn many lessons after a studious weekend.

A new championship, a new car and two new drivers. There were many discoveries for Sébastien Loeb Racing which set out to progress throughout the Belgian meeting. On a circuit as demanding as Spa, the Soultz-Sous-Forêts team had to deal with a power deficit, the Peugeot 308 Racing Cup being powered by a 1,6l engine compared to its opponents' 2,0l. Grégory Guilvert and Jimmy Clairet nevertheless animated the two races and showed part of the potential of the 308 Racing Cup, which was perfectly expressed in the winding sections. It also demonstrated flawless reliability for its first appearance in the discipline.

In addition to the technical feedback that will be given to Peugeot Sport engineers, Sébastien Loeb Racing appreciated this experience, whether with the car, the drivers or in the series. The team also showed its ability to adapt to a new environment.

Franck Tiné, Sébastien Loeb Racing Sports Director: “It’s an interesting experience for the team. We learned a lot of lessons and interesting information for the future. We have discovered a new format, which is attractive. We worked well, with two efficient drivers, serious and very professional in their approach. The Peugeot 308 Racing Cup is a very good car, with an excellent chassis and handling on the track. We are adding a string to our bow and we are satisfied with the overall results. »

Grégory Guilvert, official Peugeot Sport driver, Peugeot 308 Racing Cup n°38: “We worked well on the settings and we saw that the car behaves very well on entry and mid-corner. We showed some great things even though Spa-Francorchamps is one of the toughest circuits for engine power. We respected our route chart, following the track limits and making no mistakes. We were performing well in the revs, then at the end of the race with good use of the tires. I had a blast driving. The 308 Racing Cup is a quality, well-finished product, and I am sure that many drivers will have a lot of fun with it. »

Jimmy Clairet, Peugeot 308 Racing Cup n°30: “Overall, I'm quite satisfied. I made progress throughout the weekend and we worked well to improve the car. We were limited by the engine power, with the 1,6l versus the 2,0l, but we fought with the qualities of the car, which has a very good chassis and is excellent when braking. I'm happy to have reached Q2 during qualifying, I tried hard to do a clean lap. In the race, I had good starts, I was perhaps a little too cautious in the first. We were in the battle and this allowed us to clearly see where we could progress. I had fun and I thank the team for all the work done. »

The weekend movie. Thursday, free practice is dedicated to the search for the best settings. Jimmy discovers the 308 Racing Cup with the 10th fastest time in the first session, while Grégory, who knows the car well, continues his work on the set-up. Both drivers are accumulating kilometers to gain maximum experience before qualifying. If Grégory has to be content with the 9th row, Jimmy manages to climb into Q2 and achieves the 12th time.

Race 1. The sun is still out late Friday afternoon. Aboard the No. 30, Jimmy got off to a good start to climb to 10th place. However, he must give up several positions after avoiding contact with another competitor. At the wheel of the No. 38, Grégory is gradually making his way back: from 17th place on the grid, he climbs up to 10th! The battles multiply and the two men escape the pitfalls of a hectic platoon. They finally conclude the 9 laps in 12th place for Grégory, 13th for Jimmy.

Race 2. The takeoff is once again positive for the two 308 Racing Cups. Jimmy went from 12th to 8th before the end of the first lap, while Grégory gained two positions. For several laps, Jimmy held off the #24 Honda, #7 VW and #49 Seat, oscillating between 10th and 12th places. Grégory continues his progress with duels against Seat n°50 and n°9. On the 8th lap, while Jimmy was hampered by a driver who was under penalty, the two 308 Racing Cup cars exchanged their respective places. They finished in the same order as the day before: 12th and 13th.
The next appearance of the 308 Racing Cup will be next weekend on the Nordschleife, as part of the VLN, again via Sébastien Loeb Racing. WTCC driver Grégoire Demoustier will be joined by two specialists from the German series, Jürgen Mett and Michael Bohrer.