Jamin: “United offers me a golden opportunity”

Hello Nico. We’re not bothering you?

No, I'm helping out in the family business. I'm going to go and calm down.

So what did you do with your winter?

Reaching an agreement with United Autosports has already taken me quite a bit of time. We also had to start, as during every off-season, looking for partners. And it was successful, which is a good thing. I kept myself in shape and worked a little in the family business.

I m extremely excited to join @UnitedAutosport for the 2021 season. To have the opportunity to fight for a championship together is such a big privilege. I want to thank Richard Dean and Zak Brown for their trust.#BeUnited #motorsports #racing #LMP2 #ELMS #Le Mans pic.twitter.com/wu5BVs1Csm

— Nico Jamin (@nico_jamin) February 3, 2021

How was the contact with United Autosports established?

The season ELMS 2020 at Panis Racing has not gone unnoticed. They had an eye on my performances for some time, then we were put in touch by J.-F. Thormann (vice-president of Andretti Autosport, whose interests he defended in Indy Lights. Editor's note) and whom I know well . However, the two teams are quite close (and even associated in Supercars. Editor's note). It was he who made the connection with Richard (Dean, co-owner of United Autosports. Editor’s note). We immediately got along very well, we are on the same wavelength.

What will you remember from your time at Panis Racing?

I was very good at Panis. It’s a team that I really appreciated and with whom we achieved some great things. A family-sized structure, but extremely competent and very attentive to its drivers. The performance was there. Throughout the year, we fought for podiums in ELMS. What did we miss? A bit of pace in qualifying, perhaps due to the fact that we were wearing Goodyears, a little behind the Michelins.

And there was this podium at the 24 Hours of Le Mans...

Definitely the highlight of the year. This third place (with Julien Canal and Matthieu Vaxiviere. Editor’s note), we won with panache. We didn't make a single mistake, there wasn't a single scratch on the car when it arrived, we did everything perfectly. And when we have tasted this podium, we want to go back even more and climb two more steps. I think this year I will have everything I need to fight for victory. And I hope to do it in front of spectators.

Is this what motivated you to join United Autosports?

I find, with United, a larger team, which has a lot of experience and which has accumulated success in recent years. After three seasons spent within French structures (Duqueine Engineering and Panis Racing. Ed.), I am not unhappy to find a foreign entity. 2021 is a pivotal season for me and United offers me a golden opportunity, difficult to refuse at this stage of my career.

Have you ever found out why this team is so overbearing?

I won't say anything... More seriously, she has a past and means. The engineers are very sophisticated and have all the necessary equipment to work well. It’s actually the sum of several things. It's still a little early to say, but I have already been able to see the level of professionalism of the team. It’s very motivating and it pushes us, the drivers, to give the best and get closer to perfection. One of its great strengths is to be present in ELMS and in WEC, which allows data to be stored faster than the competition. And that will be valuable this year because of the regulatory changes and the new tires.

Did you have the opportunity to meet your teammates?

Yes, we even spent ten days together between two test sessions. I have known Job (van Uitert. Editor’s note) for a long time. Everyone knows their peak speed. Manuel (Maldonado. Editor’s note) has, for his part, done very good things in testing. He has continued to progress, he wants to learn, he listens and I think he will be a very good silver.

Within such an entity, would anything other than the title be a failure?

In any case, that’s the goal. By joining the team that won the WEC, ELMS and 24 Hours of Le Mans last year, I am not coming to finish 2nd or 3rd. In ELMS, we will have two cars. But there are new crews and very solid new teams. I'm thinking in particular of WRT... The fight is going to be incredible. It's going to be a crazy year with 5-6 cars able to challenge for the title.

While driving, do you feel the changes to the sporting regulations (see Briefing pages)?

When driving, the difference is not colossal. In testing, the team asked us to test the car with 50 kW less, but it is mainly on the achievements that this is noticed. On the other hand, the adoption of the Le Mans kit (low downforce. Editor's note), it will be day and night and it risks complicating the task of gentlemen drivers. I am thinking in particular of the Raidillon de l’Eau Rouge, in Spa, or in Signes, at Paul-Ricard.

What about the new Goodyear tires?

Unlike the WEC competitors, we did all our tests with the A and C ranges, and not the D (the hardest. Editor's note), which offers very little grip. The C is a safe bet, a good tire that demonstrates consistency. But I know United is not unhappy with the fact that I have experience with Goodyear tires.

You shone in the Road to Indy pyramid. Do you have any regrets about your time in the United States?

I loved ! I fought with Pato and Colton (O'Ward and Herta. Editor's note) and I'm delighted to see that they are doing a very good job today in IndyCar. I didn't have the budget to take the final step towards IndyCar. But I came back to Europe and I am delighted to have discovered theEndurance, where I fully blossom. I fell in love with the 24 Hours of Le Mans and have dreams of a career in Endurance. I am 100% focused on this. But I would love to ride there again and every winter I work on a complementary program in IMSA.

Earlier, you mentioned a pivotal season. What were you thinking?

Like all drivers of my generation, I dream of Hypercar. So much the better, many of them adhere to this new regulation. It’s very positive for our discipline and for us. It will therefore be important for me to show, this year, what I am capable of in order to land a professional steering wheel and join the ranks of a major manufacturer.