PR: TEAM DA RACING-EURODATACAR HEADS FOR THE BIRTHPLACE OF RALLYCROSS
In February 1967, the first ever rallycross race was held in Great Britain, at the Lydden Hill circuit. Fifty years later, competitors in the FIA World Rallycross Championship return to the track that has witnessed a discipline grow in stature over five decades. Racing in the UK for the first time, Team DA Racing-Eurodatacar drivers Jean-Baptiste Dubourg and Grégoire Demoustier are preparing to tackle a momentous world motorsport event.
Jean-Baptiste Dubourg is committed to his first full season in the FIA World Rallycross Championship this year, confronted with some of the best drivers in the world and manufacturer teams. But it takes more than names to impress the Team DA Racing-Eurodatacar driver, who lets his time at the wheel of the Peugeot 208 WRX do the talking to get in the mix, as was the case in Barcelona earlier this year where he made the semi-finals. Sometimes confronted with mechanical problems, “JB” have nevertheless set strong times through the year. At the fast and undulating Lydden Hill circuit, the 208 WRX driver will give everything to qualify for the top 12 and make it into the final stages of the event.
Swapping between driving a rallycross Supercar and mastering a GT4 circuit racer on the streets of Pau, Grégoire Demoustier doesn’t like to count his hours behind the wheel. After his appearance in his home round of World RX was marked by impressive progression in the Team DA Racing-Eurodatacar 208 WRX, “Greg” will be able to use his asphalt experience at Lydden Hill this weekend, with the emphasis on late braking in the tarmac sections. With the level in World Rallycross constantly growing, Gregoire is accumulating the experience necessary to close on the top 15.
JEAN-BAPTISTE DUBOURG, TEAM DA RACING-EURODATACAR DRIVER 208 WRX # 87 WORLD RX
“I will drive at Lydden Hill for the first time this weekend and it’s a privilege to race in a round of the FIA World Rallycross Championship on such a legendary circuit. I’ve watched a lot of videos and footage of Lydden Hill, it’s a very fast circuit with long acceleration phases up and down hill. One of the key characteristics is its joker lap, which is located just after the start at the entrance to the first corner. You have to decide quickly which route to take. The loose is quite rough and bumpy so requires the chassis to be good. For that reason, it’s important for us to restart with the good foundations we found at the last round in Mettet to continue our progress. Finally, as the track is close to the Channel, the weather can be very changeable there.”
GRÉGOIRE DEMOUSTIER, TEAM DA RACING-EURODATACAR DRIVER 208 WRX # 66 WORLD RX
“I’m starting my fourth race in rallycross this weekend. It’s a very intense discipline. On top of the individual results of each race, my main objective for this year is to familiarise myself with this new environment and to continue settling into the 208 WRX. I have a good feeling at the wheel but I still have a few tenths of a second to find and to do that I will seize every opportunity and fight for my position on track.”