GC32 Racing Tour_Norauto

Franck Cammas and NORAUTO win the GC32 Racing Tour 2018 and take second overall at the GC32 TPM MED CUP in Toulon

Following their first victory in 2016, NORAUTO and Franck Cammas’ team claim the 2018 GC32 Racing Tour title win this Sunday in Toulon. With a second overall in the final event – the GC32 TPM Med Cup – and wins in the Riva Del Garda, Lagos and Villasimius events, Franck, Arnaud, Matthieu, Olivier and Devan win the final victory of a particularly close 2018 season.

Two years after the America’s Cup World Series, the skipper from Aix and his Team France crew were back in Toulon. The weather has played its own games over the course of the four days. On Thursday, torrential rains, combined with rough sea and wind conditions rendered it impossible for racing. Friday, despite a residual swell left from the strong easterly winds, proved to be ideal for racing and saw the fleet get to foil. The day was also marked by the dismasting of Realteam, the Swiss team led by Jérôme Clerc. In NORAUTO’s ranks, damage to the starboard foil hindered Franck and the team’s performance and ability to shine on the first day of competition, giving way to INEOS TEAM UK, skippered by multiple Olympic medallist, Sir Ben Ainslie who took on the overall lead in the circuit standings.

On Saturday, the eight teams went on to fight it out in the strong wind and rough sea conditions. The skippers on these flying catamarans demonstrated their foiling skills in these difficult conditions, showing their ability to coordinate and work as teams to avoid wipe-outs. Following repairs to the damaged foil, Franck was able to exploit the potential of his flying machine, topping 30 knots several times. NORAUTO beat the British team to win the first two races of the day. The teams were unable to conclude racing on Sunday. The rough sea state meant that for safety reasons, racing could not take place.

Whilst Franck Cammas could not beat INEOS TEAM UK on the event standings, the overall lead in the general standings meant that they could clinch the final season win and this new title. INEOS TEAM UK and Zoulou (Erik Maris) complete the podium.

Franck Cammas looks back on this 2018 season:
“Goal achieved! We really enjoyed racing on the circuit again. We lacked a bit of the pre-season training for the first event, but after that we were much more consistent. At the end of the day, it all comes down to being consistent. Our boat speed and handling were both good. We got the results in Lagos and Villasimius, where the level was high, and it was there that we had a battle on our hands and where we really got into the match with a good team effort. Our strengths lie in our good team work. We are all really physically fit because these boats are not only really very demanding physically, but also require fast decision making when racing; this is where I feel we have a good team. We have all known each other for a long time; we worked together on the America’s Cup a lot, which means we have naturally built up a form fluidity in our sailing and racing skills. I want to thank our partner NORAUTO who has given us a chance to race and win the circuit for a second time. We still have one more event to compete on in the GC32 with Team France youth team at the Martinique Flying Regatta taking place from 17 to 24 November.”

A new success for NORAUTO
Winners of the 2016 GC32 Racing Tour, Europe’s leading car maintenance company together with their skipper went on to race in 2017 for the 35th America’s Cup in Bermuda. For their third year of sponsorship, there have been great results. Not just for the foiling catamarans but also success for the internal force who came to encourage the team throughout the season, explains Thibaut Derville, project manager at NORAUTO: “We congratulate Franck Cammas and the team for giving us another victory under the NORAUTO colours. Over 1,000 employees have come to support the team all over Europe. Together, we have a shared team objective to succeed, perform well, be committed and be true to one another.”

2018 GC32 Racing Tour Overall Results
1. NORAUTO (FRA) – 7 points
2. INEOS TEAM UK (UK) – 17 points
3. Zoulou (FRA) – 19 points
4. Realteam (SUI) – 20 points
5. Argo (USA) – 23 points
6. Frank Racing (NZL) – 27 points
7. .film Racing (AUS) – 31 points
8. Código Rojo Racing (ARG) – 41 points
9. Métropole Toulon Provence Méditerranée (FRA) – 44 points

GC32 TPM Med Cup in Toulon Results
1. INEOS TEAM UK (UK) – 16 points
2. NORAUTO (FRA) – 29 points
3. .film Racing (AUS) – 34 points
4. Zoulou (FRA) – 42 points
5. Argo (USA) – 54 points
6. Frank Racing (NZL) – 58 points
7. Realteam (SUI) – 60 points
8. Métropole Toulon Provence Méditerranée (FRA) – 72 points

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