IMSA – Patrick Pilet: “A good connection with Dirk Werner”

2017 will in a sense be the year of change for patrick pilet. The official driver Porsche sera de nouveau impliqué dans le programme GTLM de la marque allemande en IMSA Sportscar Championship, but will compete in the all-new 911 RSR with a new teammate in the person of Dirk Werner, who arrived at Porsche from BMW, to compensate for the departures of Earl Bamber and Nick Tandy to LM P1 and the WEC.

The German is, however, no stranger to the North American championship or to the Gersois. Werner has defended the colors of BMW Team RLL for the last three seasons, with his best result being second place in the general classification in the category in 2015, behind… Patrick Pilet.

The two new teammates were able to work together during the tests organized on the Florida track of Daytona yesterday, with an understanding that already seems to be there.

“It's good for Earl and Nick to have the chance to move up to LM P1, but for me, as we are good friends, it was difficult to change. » underlines the Frenchman. But I think we have a very good connection with Dirk.

It's helpful to have an "old hand" like me with some experience. I'm not old, but I know the team perfectly. Honestly, everything went well. We've got really great feedback, we're liking the same things on the car so far, so it's pretty simple. He's a good guy. I have known him since I rode in the United States (2008). »

The other 911 RSR will be entrusted to the Franco-Belgian pair Kevin Estre – Laurens Vanthoor, who will move up the GT hierarchy from GT3 to GTLM, after having evolved for a long time within Vincent Vosse's Team WRT. A young duo, but which could be complementary.

“They are young drivers with a little less experience, especially Laurens because he doesn't know the championship, but Kevin already has some experience. » Pilet explains. Daytona testing continues today, including the new DPi in action.