Stéphane Ventaja wins the FFSA TC France title at Le Castellet
The FFSA TC France series came to an end at Le Castellet’s Circuit Paul Ricard, where ten TCR cars were part of a 34-car field. Stéphane Ventaja of Team Clairet Sport and Julien Paget of Team ASM by Optimum Racing equally shared victories in the final battle for the title. Paget who had switched from the Volkswagen Golf GTI he had driven during the season to a CUPRA Leon Competición, the same car of his rival, won the first and third races, while Ventaja secured the title with a victory in Race 2 and finished in style by winning Race 4. He topped the final standings on 279 points, 21 clear of his rival.
Race 1 – The pole position was empty, as the SP Compétition CUPRA Leon of Giovanni Scamardi that had been fastest in Qualifying did not make the grid due to a technical issue. Paget led at the start from P2 on the grid, ahead of Ventaja who followed the leader throughout the race but never found the way to try an overtaking move. Paget crossed the finish line only three tenths ahead of his rival, while Michel Leal (Leal Compétition, Volkswagen Golf GTI) completed the TCR podium. Paget reduced his gap in the standings to 14 points behind Ventaja.
Race 2 – In the Saturday night race, Ventaja converted the pole in his 14th victory of the season. Just like in the first race, Ventaja and Paget were in a league of their own and pulled away from the pack. Under the chequered flag they were split by six tenths, with Thierry Chkondali (700 Miles W-Autosport, Volkswagen Golf GTI) in third position. The result meant that Ventaja was crowned champion before the last two races.
Race 3 – His car repaired, Scamardi could start from the pole and led for most of the race, resisting the pressure from Paget and Ventaja. However, during the penultimate lap, the Belgian driver was slowed by a problem with the front left tyre. He quickly resumed his pace, but Paget had already stolen the lead from him and went to take his second win of the weekend. During the last lap Scamardi collided with Ventaja who moved up to finish second, while Scamardi was excluded after the race, which elevated Michel Leal to third.
Race 4 – The battle between Ventaja and Paget resumed in the last race, with the newly-crowned champion leading from the pole position ahead of his rival. Behind them Scamardi, who was 17th on the grid, passed his teammate Gilles Chauvin for P3 in lap 3. Ventaja soon pulled away, while Scamardi closed the gap to Paget and moved on him into the last turn of the final lap. They clashed, both went wide and rejoined with Paget retaining the third place by 25 thousandths.
Picture: SRO Motorsport
