Philippe Chéreau (Automoto la Chaîne): “Impatient to go live again”

In your opinion, is this the right time to resume?

I would say the officials thought carefully about the conditions. During the break, the Nascar had the very good idea of ​​doing Esport with real drivers even if some left feathers (reference to Kyle Larson who was fired from Chip Ganassi Racing). Nascar has always indicated that it will do everything to achieve its 36 races and the proposed formula is good, racing near the home of Nascar in North Carolina. It is nevertheless sad to see events canceled like the road race in Sonoma (California), but this choice of restricted locations eliminates the problems of travel and health measures in certain states. However, we have no visibility for the future, this relaunch serves as a testing phase.

Do the measures taken seem sufficient to you?

From a health point of view, they are doing their best. On a sporting level, it's something else because some won't have ridden for a while. Matt Kenseth will return after several years without having driven (replacing Kyle Larson), Ryan Newman returns after his crash at Daytona 500, while there will be no qualifying or practice sessions. The pilots are both questioning and impatient at the idea of ​​what it will be like. The show promises in any case because the drivers will be very motivated by victory with the uncertainties concerning the rest of the calendar.

Won't the closed session be too noticeable on TV?

It doesn't really scare me, I think they will do the work in the production to concentrate on the cars and not make people feel too empty. I don't remember having commented on closed-door events, this is a first for me since confinement where I have commented on wrestling, a discipline which has had no interruption.

So shall we meet on Sunday evening, as before?

Indeed, we will be live this Sunday and we will comment on the following events in live conditions when the races take place at night. This will be particularly the case for the Coca Cola 600. The calendar will be busy, but we are used to it and we are delighted to see the competition resume!

TV programs from Automoto la channel

Darlington 400 miles – Sunday May 17, 21:30 p.m.
Darlington 500km – Thursday May 21, 20 p.m.
Coca Cola 600 in Charlotte – Monday May 25, 20 p.m.
Charlotte 500km – Thursday May 28, 20 p.m.