Why is the Euroformula Open withdrawing from the Pau Grand Prix?

After the rumors, the confirmation. It has been a few days since the presence of the Euroformula Open on the Pau Grand Prix program was threatened. Indeed, the Spanish promoter, GT Sport, maintained doubts as to the holding of the 2^e round of the season of its championship in the streets of Pau on May 13 and 14.

Background of tensions

And what was supposed to happen, happened. Through a press release, the Euroformula Open formalized its package for the 80^e edition of the Pau Grand Prix. The promoter of the European championship indicated that the decision had been taken because an agreement on a particular point had not been found with the organizers of the Pau event. This had also been communicated to them at the end of April but due to lack of agreement, the Spaniards preferred to throw in the towel. “ GT Sport confirms today that the Euroformula Open will not contest the second round of its 2023 season in Pau on May 13 and 14, as was communicated to the Pau organizers on April 27, can we read in the official announcement.

Technical reasons led to this decision, as it proved impossible to adapt the current engines of the Euroformula Open cars to the wishes of the Grand-Prix organizers, its sponsors and the city of Pau for a low-emission event of carbon, operating with “greener” fuels, a requirement which was not part of the agreement signed with the Pau GP. The studies and verifications carried out showed that adapting the engines safely and efficiently would require additional engineering work, costly modifications and testing.."

The deadline being too tight to adapt the cars to this so-called “green” engine for one round only, GT Sport preferred to decide by withdrawing from the Pau Grand Prix. Despite this problem, the championship promoter intends to replace this round with another, the information of which will soon be revealed.

A reduced field at the Pau Grand Prix

Without its flagship event from its initial programming, the Pau Grand Prix finds itself with a very reduced field. In addition to the Euroformula Open, the organizers of the French event will also not receive a visit from the Pure ETCR, without a promoter after the end of the promotion of the Discovery group.

So many absences which will be felt in the streets of Pau because there will only be 6 disciplines in a little less than ten days: F4 France, Wolf Thunder, Sprint Cup by Funyo, the Caterham Cup, the Twin 'Cup and TCR Europe. We are a long way from the golden age of the Pau Grand Prix.

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