Daniel Serra: “I try to share my experience with my teammates”

Daniel, what are the sensations before this edition of the Centenary of 24 Hours of Le Mans ?

Le Mans is my favorite race! I love being here, I love this event. It’s great to be part of such a historic race. We rode quite well and I think we still have things to improve, but we are doing the best we can to assess our level. 

This is your 7th participation in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, but your first in the GTE-Am category. What are the differences in terms of preparation? 

Obviously, the goal remains to win the race and do a good job. One of the objectives of this season is to improve [Takeshi] Kimura-san and help him in his piloting. This is the biggest difference as a professional pilot: the goal is to help the gentlemen drivers to be better. 

You had a great start to the season with a podium at Sebring (3rd), before two more complicated races at Portimão (10th) and Spa (8th). Do you think you are launching a new dynamic here at Le Mans?

Le Mans is always difficult to know where we are. It's such a long race... Sometimes you're good at the start, and suddenly you're not there at all. Sometimes you think you can't fight, and the next thing you know, you're back in the fight, especially this year with the new safety car rule. The dynamics of the race will be changed. But I think Kimura does a good job, Scott [Huffaker] as well. This is his first 24 Hours of Le Mans and he is driving well. If everything goes well and we do everything we need to do, we can do something. 

You are an official pilot Ferrari, the leader of this crew. How do you help your teammates?

Scott [Huffaker] is a great driver, very young. He comes from theIMSA, he is very fast on prototypes. He's learning to drive a GT, but he's already doing a good job. Kimura already has some experience here, but piloting is not his job. So there is always something to do to help him in the car, in his feelings. For my part, I try to share my experience with my teammates here, at Le Mans, to reassure them. 

What is the main quality of your crew?

It's not just the drivers, everyone is very organized here. It's my first year with Kessel Racing and I'm pretty impressed, everyone knows what they have to do. I already knew a few members of the team, but I had never worked with them. Kimura-san is a gentleman driver very involved, he really wants to progress. We do a lot of meetings to show him what he can do and he likes it. The main quality in my opinion is team spirit. 

This is the last dance of the Ferrari 488 GTE this year, with which you won in GTE-Pro in 2019. How much do you like this car, and how do you see the arrival of the GT3 in 2024?

I'm trying to enjoy this “last dance” with the GTE, it's a great car. The main difference with the GT3 is the tires. With the GT3s, these are commercial tires, and that makes a big difference. But regardless, I'm trying to enjoy right now, I know that next year we will have an incredible car with the 296 GT3. I can't wait to see how she performs here. 

Is there additional pressure this year, for this Centenary edition? 

No, it's the same pressure as every year. We always want to win, so it doesn't change much.

Comments collected by Dorian Grangier

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