Interview: the French young prodigy Théo Pourchaire arrives in Formula 2
Motors Inside had the chance to interview Théo Pourchaire, the new French single-seater prospect. He looks back on his magnificent 2020 season, his runner-up title in Formula 3, but also on his arrival in F2.
New in-depth interview on Motors Inside! After the story of Pierre Gasly’s victory at Monza, and the behind-the-scenes of F1 on Canal+ with the journalist-commentator Julien Fébreau, it’s time for an interview with a French hope: Théo Pourchaire, 17 years old (born on August 20, 2003!), F3 vice-champion 2020… and F2 driver starting from the Bahrain Grand Prix, from November 27 to 29.
« I did not expect to perform so quickly in F3 »
First of all, congratulations on this first season in F3 and the runner-up title with the French team ART GP! It seems that the adaptation has been quick.
Honestly, I didn’t expect to perform so quickly, it was a bit of a complicated start to the season, but then I quickly got good results and finishing runner-up, it’s truly incredible!
As a rookie, I was driving this year with ART Grand Prix, a legendary team in F3 and F2. We fought well throughout the season against the Prema team. I was obviously a little disappointed at the end of the last race (note: at Mugello in mid-September), but considering the season and thanks to our work, we managed to achieve something excellent. We are all happy and proud!
You are 17 years old this year and considered one of the great hopes of French auto racing, tell us about your journey!
« I started very young: at 3 years old, I was already in a kart! Then, everything happened quickly for me! French champion in the Minimes category (Editor’s note: 2013, in his first year!) and Cadets (2014, still in his first year!), French Junior champion and 3rd in the CIK FIA World Championship in OK junior (in 2016 each time). I then went through the French F4 where I became French junior champion (2018) and 3rd overall.
Last season (editor’s note: in 2019), I won the ADAC German F4 championship driving a single-seater from US Racing team, led by Ralf Schumacher. And this year, I finish runner-up in Formula 3!
Théo Pourchaire, 2020 FIA Formula 3 Vice Champion! ????????
????: Formula Motorsport Limited#F3 #TuscanGP ???????? pic.twitter.com/xHlKIXNeKF
— ART Grand Prix (@ARTGP) September 13, 2020
With Alonso, we raced for a whole afternoon!
You could say you don’t waste any time! Where does your passion for motor racing come from?
« It’s clearly a family story, my father is a big rally fan and he’s the one who put me in a go-kart at the age of three. Since then, we haven’t stopped!
After, there are many sacrifices to make, but I am ready to do anything to succeed.
What is your first memory of F1, your first Grand Prix?
« I remember particularly the Monaco Grand Prix in 2006, I was able to go there and I remember seeing great drivers like Michael Schumacher or Fernando Alonso. It left a big impression on me because they were the best of their time! The sound of the V8 engines was impressive, I even remember that we had to wear noise-canceling headphones.
At the time, I couldn’t see myself ever driving an F1 car, I was doing karting just for fun. It’s only after that I started dreaming of F1, a dream that I am starting to reach out for.
We can easily imagine that your goal is to one day make it to F1, and that you have already met many F1 drivers, is there one who has made more of an impression on you than the others?
« I’ve already met Sebastian Vettel while I was testing in Karting. I especially had the chance to meet Fernando Alonso when I went to train on his track (ed: in Asturias) . He put on a suit and took a kart to come and ride on the track with me, we raced for an entire afternoon. It’s a moment that really marked me and a memory I will never forget. »
« Ultimately, becoming the youngest F3 winner serves as motivation for me »
Did you take part in the F3 championship this year, a complicated championship yet you finished as a runner-up! Tell us about this F3 season.
« It was a complicated season, I had a lot of things to learn, the first meeting N.B.: (at the Red Bull Ring, in Austria) was tough, 20th in qualifying and no points at the end of the weekend! But I didn’t give up and I used these difficulties to win two races during the 2nd and 3rd weekends of the season (respectively at the Red Bull Ring and at Silverstone). I obviously made some mistakes, but rookie mistakes that served me well afterwards.
The most important thing for me was to be in the points as often as possible, in the end, I finish the season with 161 points, 8 podiums, and a pole position at Monza.
I am happy with my season, as I started from far away and I had a lot to learn in F3. Interpolating between the Prema and finishing only three points behind the champion is a great pride for me.
For you, what was the turning point of the season?
« Honestly, I think it’s the first victory in Austria, it gave me more confidence in myself and it changed the game for the rest of the season.
Déjà une victoire en @FIAFormula3 pour @TPourchaire ! ????????????
Le pilote de l’Équipe de France #FFSACircuit a remporté ce matin la Course 2 de ce deuxième week-end autrichien.
FÉLICITATIONS Théo ???? pic.twitter.com/tN95ON2VUA
— FFSA (@FFSportAuto) July 12, 2020
You also broke a record this season by becoming the youngest winning driver in this category!
« I tend to forget about it and I admit that I didn’t know it when the race started, it’s on social media that I discovered the information. Ultimately, becoming the youngest winner in F3 is important and it serves as motivation for me.
How did you experience the last race of the season at Mugello, marked by this title fight with your main rivals Oscar Piastri and Logan Sargeant?
« I approached the weekend without focusing on the championship. Piastri and Sargeant were competing for the title and during the race, I could see that they were driving defensively. On my side, I pushed hard and went for the win. With my team, we tried everything, I managed to step on the podium twice and we still finished in a nice second place in the championship.
«My goal in F2 will be to try to beat Artem (editor’s note: Markelov) in the race! »
We will be able to find you behind the wheel of an F2 from the HWA Racelab team as early as the end of November at the Bahrain circuit. You must be looking forward to it!
I’m really looking forward to Bahrain, I will have the chance to participate in two race weekends and it will be a great opportunity to gain as much experience as possible for next season.
I do not put too much pressure on myself, I always aim to win, but I am aware that it will be very complicated. I will have a lot to learn such as tire degradation or pit stops. I will have the chance to have Artem Markelov as a teammate, he is a driver with a lot of experience in F2. My goal will be to try to beat him in the race, which will already be a great achievement.
You were driving this season for the ART Grand Prix team, can we imagine seeing you behind the wheel of one of their cars in F2 next season?
« For the moment, discussions are ongoing with several teams and of course, I would like to continue with ART Grand Prix. Logically, I should take part in the end-of-season tests with the team that will welcome me next season, so I think I will have an answer shortly.
You are very well surrounded today, already by the FFSA, but also by the Sauber Junior Team, what kind of support do they provide you with precisely?
« First of all, I would like to thank the FFSA and the Sauber Junior Team because they provide me with a lot of technical and financial support. Thanks to Sauber, I trained on the simulator to improve my technique and driving.
The FFSA also helps me a lot on the media and financial side, such as finding sponsors or developing my social networks.
In addition to Formula 2, what are your other challenges for next year?
» I am focusing on my career and the F2 season next year, but I will also have to combine it with my studies and especially my baccalaureate. Thanks to the FFSA Academy and CNED, I can work on my courses remotely peacefully while having time to prepare myself physically for the future challenges that await me.
Back to school ????????????????@FFSAAcademy #school #ffsa #boy #racingschool pic.twitter.com/QYDIhc0Wzj
— Théo Pourchaire (@TPourchaire) October 6, 2020
A big thank you to Théo Pourchaire for this interview! The entire Motors Inside team wishes him the best for the rest of his career and his future in F2. You can catch the young French driver on track during the last two Formula 2 races in Bahrain, starting from the weekend of November 27-28-29!
