The regional press hadn't forgotten Anthoine's previous F4 victories in the Streets of Pau, and even less last year's Alps FR 2.0 Championship, so they were waiting for the only frenchman in Formula 3 with impatience. However hopes were not too high for the first race because of the 10 place penalty on the starting line due to the change of engine in Budapest. What are shame, because in sheer performance, with 3rd best lap time of his group, he would have certainly been on the podium on saturday morning, as the Canadian Strall in pole position stalled at the green light. Despite the rain, nothing modified the first positions. Instead of thinking about all the "ifs", Anthoine set off to a flying start from the 7th line, and only managed to get up to 12th position because of the spray and lack of visibility, far from Barnicoat, the winner, a rookie like himself!
The free practices friday afternoon, with more rainy weather, earned Anthoine a 5th line for the next rounds. This time without penalties. But we had everything to fear for race 2, at the end of the day. With a slight sunny spell, slick tires appeared for the first time that week end. Nobody had raced in these conditions before, which allows to gain up to 10 seconds (on 2.7km), but in Pau, men matter more than adjustments! Starting 10th, Anthoine was about to show it by improving several times his lap time, and most of all overtaking Jensen in the turning of the lycée. Coming 7th, he had come close to his best result (6th at Castellet) and was washing away the memory of Hungary with the Pyrenees water, to the great enthusiasm of his team.
At last the sun was back on Sunday with a promise of a grand Grand Prix de Pau. Anthoine started once again from the 5th line, and was 7th when the race was slowed down by the pace-car because of an off-track. Ten minutes later the re-start was fatal to Anthoine who discovered he had a flat on the front left tire. Going back to the stand cost him 20 seconds, and as there was no hope for the podium, Anthoine was determined to improve his times. He was the fastest for a long time. "And with a used tire" remarqued the manager of the team, Jean François, which added to the exploit. 12th at the finish line, it was hard to console himself with the rookie podiums on races 1 and 2. Anthoine had hoped for more. He remains 14th in the Championship with 18 points, 80 points from Stroll the canadian (9th, 4th, 2nd) was has taken the lead in front of Gunther the german, who didn't shine this week end (3rd, 14th, 13th), and 5th out of the beginners.
In Anthoine's words ... "This week end has been frustrating for us. We could have left with some better results and more points without the penalty and the flat. Sadly it's not the cas but we have proved that we have potential and our work will end up paying off."
Text and Photo : R.DUVIVIER.
