French GP goes for two DRS zones at Paul Ricard

©WRI

The Circuit Paul Ricard will feature two DRS zones destined to enhance overtaking opportunities in next Sunday's French Grand Prix.

The event returns to the F1 calendar for the first time since 2008 while the southern France venue will host its first Grand Prix since 1990.

While it has never enjoyed an F1 race in its current guise, Paul Ricard is a familiar track for most teams and drivers given that Pirelli has made extensive use of the circuit in recent years, testing both its slick and wet weather compounds at the venue.

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The track's layout offered a number of opportunities to implement the DRS but has settled on a zone located on the main start/finish straight and a second stretch situated on the long Mistral back straight.

The detection point for the first DRS zone will be at Turn 14, with an activation point located 115 metres after Turn 15, the last corner.

On the back straight, detection will be set at 75 metres before the right-hander Turn 7, with the activation of the zone starting 170 metres after the corner.

The FIA reserves itself the right to change or tweak the location and length of the zones if DRS data collected during free practice warrants a change.

©FIA

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.