Pau Grand Prix: a look back at the years in “9” (2/2)

1989

The F2 have given way to the large and powerful Formula 3000 with 8 liter V3.0 engine in the Pau town since 1985. The field is made up of young guns, who see the French round of the International Championship as a golden opportunity: the Pau Grand Prix is a great way to demonstrate their abilities in view of the Grail that constitutes a steering wheel in F1. 

However, dropping around twenty contenders in the middle of a narrow circuit is no easy task, so much so that before the first braking at the Station, a major pile-up occurs. Around ten competitors give up without going through a turn! 

Eric Bernard and Jean Alesi manage to extricate themselves from the melee. The Avignonnais took the advantage over his compatriot and won a crucial victory in his career. A few weeks later, Ken Tyrrell hired him for the French F1 Grand Prix at Paul-Ricard, with an excellent result (4th).

1999

This edition coincides with the replacement of the F3000 by Formula 3 as headliner. The Signature team will make short work of the Pau round of the European Cup, with the future triple winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Benoît Tréluyer.

The Alençonnais outrageously dominates the meeting, with pole position completed by a victory, both in the Qualifying Race and during the Grand Prix on Sunday. France is doubly represented on the podium with second place for Sébastien Dumez (ASM, future ART Grand Prix). As for the best lap, it is signed by a certain Sébastien Bourdais.

>>>Retro of the years in “9”, first part<<

2009

Despite the historical attachment to single-seaters, the Pau municipality is banking on one of the rare FIA ​​world championships to relaunch the event: the World Touring Car Championship (WTCC), which finds one of its most important trips there. most prestigious of the season. In the space of three years, from 2007 to 2009, the Pau meeting became one of the favorites of Priaulx, Tarquini, Muller and others, who are the stars of the event, in the absence of Formula 3 (except 2008). 

Uncovered wheels or not, the spectacle is identical. After the barrel and victory of Augusto Farfus in the space of 24 hours in 2007, this is another new image which will put Pau back at the forefront of the automotive scene, during Race 2. 

In the space of three terminals, several clashes devastate the peloton. Teammates Andy Priaulx and Jörg Müller (BMW) collide at the Station. Then, Félix Porteiro (BMW) sends his compatriot Sergio Hernandez (BMW) into a spin under the Oscar bridge. Finally, private pilot Tom Boardman (Seat) hits the rails in Beaumont Park.

In order to calm things down, the Safety Car is called to enter the track. Much to the surprise of leader Franz Engstler (BMW, who saw this as a unique opportunity to beat the factory cars), the Safety Car is placed right in the middle of the track after a blind curve. The shock is inevitable: 

The image immediately went viral on the Internet; Pau wanted to benefit from a first-rate media exposure, and it was served! The pilots involved in this incongruous accident emerged unscathed. 

After a long interruption, the race resumes... until local Éric Cayrolle (Seat) and Nicola Larini (Chevrolet) crash out in the final kilometers! The race is stopped at the red flag, with the victory of Alain Menu (Chevrolet), ahead of Augusto Farfus (BMW) and Rob Huff (Chevrolet). Who said that Tourism was plan-plan?