Sébastien Philippe on Théo Pourchaire’s start to the season: “The results are mixed”

Although 2^e in the championship, Theo Pourchaire would have liked to be in a completely different position after 6 rounds played this year. If he has two victories in the Main Race, the Grassois is mainly behind by 49 points over Felipe Drugovich (MP Motorsport) after a few mishaps including a zero score in Saudi Arabia where he experienced numerous technical problems. A considerable gap while the mid-season threshold has still not been reached.

« The results are necessarily mixed for different reasons, says Sébastien Philippe, director of ART Grand Prix. We had some mechanical problems which did not help us, whether in Bahrain or in Saudi Arabia. There were two or three things that were not done very well and for which we paid a dear price. In Monaco, I think we were very good but we weren't in the right group and we finished 2^e.

We hoped for better overall, both in terms of the drivers and the team. We would have liked to be in a better position at this time of year. We have a very important month of July with 4 race weekends. This is when we will make the first real assessment. So far, we have not managed to maximize everything, sometimes due to lack of success, sometimes due to incorrect work by the entire team, including the drivers. On arrival, we pay a high price."

An “essential” summer tour for Pourchaire

With the mid-season milestone almost reached, Sébastien Philippe is aware that the next meetings could play an important role for the rest of Théo Pourchaire's 2022 financial year. With 49 lengths behind Felipe Drugovich, the vice-champion of F3 in 2020 no longer really has the right to make mistakes unless the Brazilian takes off in the championship.

« We are going to arrive at a series of almost 4 meetings in a row (Great Britain and Austria in double-header then France and Hungary also in double-header). We are preparing for this moment and from there we can see where we are and what we can hope for, continues Sébastien Philippe.

I remain confident that we will succeed in turning the situation around. It's not complicated. We have 8 meetings left and we will compete in 7 over the next 3 months. Once Europe is finished (Italy will be the last European round from September 9 to 11), only Abu Dhabi will remain two months later (November 18 to 20). I think the mass will have been said well before the final."

Théo Pourchaire can count on the support of his team to hope to return to the championship. ©DPPI/F. Gooden

The solution is therefore very simple for Théo Pourchaire: maximize all the opportunities presented to him to continue to believe in the title at the end of the season. “ We don't hide it, we're already behind in the championship, points out the director of ART Grand Prix. The next 4 rounds are essential to reposition yourself well for the last part of the season. We are fully focused on the 4 upcoming meetings. We know we will have to score points. We have everything to do it, you just have to put everything in place for it to work."

Théo Pourchaire is notified for the resumption of the season at Silverstone (1^e to July 3). He will have to stock up on points to continue to put pressure on Felipe Drugovich otherwise his chances of winning the title at the end of the year risk dwindling.

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