Rahel Frey: “The Iron Dames still have it under their belt! »

Rahel, what are the sensations as we approach this edition of the Centenary of 24 Hours of Le Mans ?

Le Mans is unique. This is a very special edition and we are happy to be here. Unfortunately, this is our one and only year with the Porsche, it's a very good car. We are proud to be there with Porsche this year. Already, last week, there were a lot of people and a lot of things to see, it's quite impressive. 

Let's quickly come back to qualifying: you start 12th in GTE Am, how confident do you feel to move up the hierarchy?

It's a long race and we're ready. We still have some left under our belt, at least I hope! We will see during the warm-up on Saturday morning. We are sad not to have reached the Hyperpole against Corvette. That means we have to work a little more, but the problem with the GT is that everyone hides their performance a little. It's special, and for us pilots, it's not easy. We're never 100%, so I hope we won't have any bad surprises during the race. But I think it will be fine: the team knows the car now and we are very well prepared. Also check with the weather, because if it rains, everything will change!

Rahel, you said at a press conference that the biggest pressure at Le Mans is the one you put on yourself. When does a pilot overcome this pressure?

It's very important to communicate with each other, between the drivers and between the engineers. You have to have a good plan and follow that plan meticulously. On our car, each of us has a job to do. We're trying to gain experience, data, and I find it's a lot easier when you know what you have to do. 

In terms of driving, when do you feel comfortable on the 24 Hours of Le Mans circuit?

It’s clear that experience helps here. It's easier when you know the procedures, the environment, the route... Likewise, we try to prepare well in advance: we do simulator sessions to arrive ready at Le Mans. There have to be no surprises when I get in the car. 

What do you think is the main quality of your crew?

Our strength is that we all know each other very well. We've been riding together for two years, and each of us has our own strengths and weaknesses. We can support each other very well. When I said that each of us has tasks to accomplish in a general plan, if someone does not feel comfortable with the car, we discuss it and we change certain things.

You have to find compromises, it's a key element in the overall performance of the car. Everyone on the team knows that we can only achieve this if we are all together. This doesn't mean that everyone has the same opinion, or that everyone is happy with the performance, that's not the case: we have discussions regularly and they are very healthy. 

This year, you discovered the Porsche 911 RSR. What is the main quality of this car compared to the Ferrari here, at Le Mans?

It's difficult to compare because the BoP has evolved a lot all year. The Porsche is completely different to drive: you always have to play with the accelerator and the differential. Last year the Porsche was already very strong. Maybe not the fastest in qualifying, but certainly the most consistent during the race. I hope that will be the case again this weekend.

This year there are many more Hypercars than in 2022. Will it be difficult to manage the traffic compared to previous years?

Having more Hypercars is much easier for us! The Hypercars overtake us more easily and quickly than the LM P2s. With LM P2s, you always have to look twice or three times, and they are not all professional drivers…

This year, it is also the “last dance” of GTE at Le Mans. Are you looking forward to experiencing Le Mans with the Lamborghini GT3 next year?

For the discipline, it’s very interesting. I am delighted that the GT3s will get this chance to do the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The competition will be even stronger in GT. This gives new possibilities for all drivers, even those who are not yet professionals. 

Here in France, the Iron Dames are very popular. Do you feel this affection from the French public? 

There is a big difference between 2019 and 2023, that’s clear. We have a lot more female fans, even young girls with pink Iron Dame t-shirts. It also means that we have a very strong team at our side, with the entire communications team. There is a result on the track and aside, it is a work of all the Iron Dames.

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