Tristan Vautier: “Sebring is the most beautiful line in my list”

Do you realize what you have accomplished?

I begin. When you arrive home (in St Petersburg, Florida. Editor's note) and you settle down, you take the measure of your victory, helped by the congratulatory messages. I have never had so much feedback, including when I won the Star Mazda and the Indy Lights (respectively in 2011 and 2012. Editor's note) or the Intercontinental GT Challenge (2018. Editor's note). And I have to admit, it's a pretty cool feeling.

Do you consider this to be your highest feat of arms?

Sebring is the best line on my list. And it is the fruit of a lot of work. I actually started in IMSA in 2017. Since then, I have scored two poles – all at Sebring – and two podiums in GTD. In the end, it was my first victory in IMSA, which was not without surprising many people. But it is one of the two biggest races inEndurance of the world. In saying that, it reminds me that on Saturday, after the race, when I returned to the hotel with Loïc (Duval. Editor's note), he told me: "You don't realize what it means to win a race like that, how much a day like this marks your career. » He speaks with knowledge of the facts (Duval had already won in 2011. Editor's note).

You were talking about lucky stars. What were you missing until now to make your mark?

I've been with JDC-Miller for two years, but Sebring was only my sixth race in the No. 5. In 2019 and 2020, we lacked overall performance. This happened in the last two races of last season. Afterwards, at the 12 Hours of Sebring 2020 (November 14, Editor's note) and at the last 24 Hours of Daytona (January 30-31, 2021, Editor's note), we lacked success. In Sebring, Seb (Bourdais. Editor's note) was hit by a GT 1h30 from the goal, even though we had led a large part of the race and were in contention for victory. At Daytona, I myself was hit by a GT, which was hit by another GT even though we had led a good part of the first eight hours of the race.

Find the complete interview in AUTOhebdo No. 2305, available in digital version and on newsstands.