Gregory Pain will step into unknown territory at Yas Marina Circuit but this hasn’t stopped him from setting a top-five target in the TRD 86 Cup.

The Frenchman is one of 11 drivers who will take to the track for the season-opening race this weekend. With more than eight years of racing, including being a co-driver in the World Rally Championship (WRC), Pain will look to make his experience count on his debut. 

But he knows the Abu Dhabi track will provide some challenges.

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“I’ve been racing for nearly eight years in many countries around the world,” said the 44-year-old. 

“But this will be my very first time racing at Yas Marina Circuit. 

“Anyone who knows the circuit knows it’s a challenging track that has many corners. It means I will have to brake fast regularly and 
remain focused during all the laps.”

He added: “This will be a new experience for me as I’ve heard a lot of good things about the TRD 86 Cup.

“I don’t really know how good the other drivers are as we will only find out during the races but I hope I can be in the top five. That would be a strong season for me.”

Aged 44, Pain knows that becoming a professional is out of the question, but will still use this event as a learning curve.

“I just want to learn and improve my driving skills,” he said. “You’re never too old to learn. I’ve done a lot of rally driving in my career but the TRD 86 Cup is held on motor track circuits.

“I want to take it step by step and see where I can go. For sure, it will be fast-paced action and there will be strong drivers competing. That will help me up my game and despite my eight years in racing, I’m still a beginner at this level and have a lot to learn. I’m definitely looking forward to the new season.”