French star hoping for a wet track
MANY of the European drivers who have ventured Down Under for the Race of Stars are hoping for a sunny Gold Coast experience.
Not Anthony Abbasse. The Frenchman has made the journey to debut in the annual karting event at Pimpama and is wishing for rain to help his cause.
Two-time Race of Stars defending champion Paolo De Conto has twice pipped Abbasse to the world title and the latter believes rain could help him finally overhaul his respected rival.
“He has the advantage to know the track but anyway a right corner is a right corner, a left corner is a left corner,” said Abbasse, who checked out the Xtreme Karting track on YouTube prior to practice yesterday.
“We’ll see what happens. But this weekend there is some rain (forecast) – in the rain we are fast so we’ll see.”
Torrential rain hit the event last year.
Either way, the Gold Coast has made a good first impression on the 12-time French national champion.
“It’s really nice to be here. This is the first time in my life where I arrive in a country and I am welcomed like this. I appreciate it,” Abbasse, 28, said.
Qualifying and heat races will be run today, with further heats and the final held tomorrow.