Doriane Pin: “I enjoy all the tricks I do”

Doriane, there are a lot of requests around you here at 24 Hours of Le Mans. How do you manage all of this on top of your race preparation?

I have people around me who help me organize everything so as not to be overbooked. I'm also trying to make the most of it, because it's my first 24 Hours of Le Mans and it's the Centenary. I've been waiting for this race for a while. That's why I enjoy all the laps I do, all the moments with the team and everything that happens around. I've been very happy since we arrived at the weigh-in, I had a great time with the public who were already there a week before the race. This is going really well. 

Did you expect such fervor around you?

We are one of the teams capable of playing in the championship. There is obviously a wait, because I am French, but I did not expect so much. As I said, the Weigh-In was the first day, there wasn't even any rolling and there were already a lot of people in town to support me. It's crazy, but it's fun. It's really beautiful to see people passionate about it and to share it with them.

Is this extra motivation?

It gives motivation, good energy. They are all positive and all smile. I do motorsport because I love this sport. I love what I do. Sharing it with people is something essential. 

You have already driven on the Le Mans circuit in GT during Road to Le Mans. What are the changes with the LM P2?

This has nothing to do with. I drove on this circuit in 2021 and the Michelin Le Mans Cup starts on Wednesday, so the track is already erased. This was not the case during the Test Day and I was the first to get in the car. Honestly, it was pretty hot. We can't make adjustments to the car's balance because the track is dirty. There's not a lot of rolling. There are three of us in the car for the Test Day and we had a problem during Free Practice 1 (alternator cable. Editor's note) which caused us to lose time. The team did a tremendous job and we left half an hour before the end of the session. Mirko (Bortolotti) is the one who rode the most to prepare for qualifying and the Hyperpole. I didn't have many laps before yesterday (Wednesday, Editor's note) when I did two five laps at night.

How did it go ?

It's completely different. The signs are all fluorescent 200 meters or 300 meters ahead. The headlights dazzle them and we can no longer see anything. It takes two or three rounds to get used to it. There are very few lights on the circuit, there is an adaptation time, it didn't go too bad. On this circuit, the more driving you have, the better. We don't realize the speed in the simulator. 

Mirko Bortolotti is the only one to have participated in the 24 Hours of Le Mans in your trio (in 2022 with WRT alongside Dries Vanthoor and Rolf Ineichen. Editor's note). Does his experience help you a lot?

Yes, it is quite impressive. All three of us have roughly the same feelings and the same feedback. This goes to all of us. Daniil (Kvyat. Editor’s note) also needs time to adapt. We are a bit the same. We're still looking for ways to improve, but we're on the right track. We have good pace compared to the others in the long relays, which is the most important in a 24-hour race. There has been a good atmosphere in the team since the start of the week, we work well together. Everyone is giving their all.

The team finished second last year, will that serve as a basis for this year?

It's a good team with a lot of experience in LM P2 and in Endurance. We have a good group. They finished second last year for their first Le Mans, the objective is to climb one more step. 

What do you remember from this start of the season? WEC ?

It's very positive. We got on the podium at Sebring, the pace was good. Same in Portimao. We were unlucky with the Safety Car when we could have won. In Spa, the pace was still very good. We have a good crew, good group cohesion. We work very well together. I have learned a lot since the start of the year. I feel in my element.

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