André Lotterer (Genesis): “Having a dynamic role at this point in my career”

How do you leave a manufacturer you love like this? Porsche, especially after becoming world champion?

It's certainly not easy. When I arrived at Porsche (in Hypercar at the start of the 963 project in 2022. Ed.), it was in the mindset of ending my career there. I was at a stage where I wanted to build something in the long term. I "lived" the brand, I was a fan, Porsche interested me beyond driving. However, the dynamic changed with their decision to reduce the crews from three to two drivers in WEC (in 2025. . Ed.) and to keep the youngest of them. We were nevertheless in a good situation with a great trio which established itself as a dream team de l 'Endurance (with Kevin Estre and Laurens Vanthoor. Ed.) and a good relationship with the engineers.

Did you feel that Porsche was going to place you in a role of simple ambassador?

We asked ourselves how we could continue together, which interested me, but what was offered to me did not stimulate me. It was not enough for me. It is not enough to be a fan of the brand. If the environment changes, the state of mind evolves and you no longer feel as much at home as you would like, you start to think.

When did you learn that you probably weren't going to continue with Porsche, and when did you start talking to Genesis?

In August, a little after the WEC round in São Paulo (July 14). We were talking with Kévin and Laurens about staying together in 2025, but we heard that things were probably going to change in the management. They went to see the management, but they told me on the evening of São Paulo that the team wanted to move to two drivers per prototype. That was a blow to my morale. I still have the racing spirit in me. I think I have had a good enough career to decide when and under what conditions I will stop. I wanted to continue to exploit this energy. There was the rumor Hyundai ; so I called Cyril Abiteboul. It was quickly concluded. I didn't say anything for a long time, because I didn't want it to have an influence on the team spirit in view of the 2024 world title. I preferred to wait until the end of the season.

Concretely, what will your program be in 2025?

I don't know yet. I will spend a lot of time in the design offices with François-Xavier Demaison (technical director, see Interview. Editor's note) to put things in place on the technical side, or with Cyril Abiteboul. I would like the team to have a good state of mind. It is possible that I will participate in a few races, but that remains to be defined. What is certain is that I will do the Goodwood Festival of Speed. The ergonomics of the car will essentially be made in Oreca, but we will spend a lot of time on the settings parameters, the position of the buttons on the steering wheel for example. I appreciate having a dynamic role at this point in my career, to use my experience to build a team.

Interview by Romain Bernard

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