Calado: “For Ferrari, claiming overall victory at Le Mans again would be extraordinary”

We are in the museum Ferrari, for the inauguration of the exhibition dedicated to the 24 Hours of Le Mans. How does it feel to see the 488 GTE Evo, with which you won the 87th edition, so highlighted?

This victory that we achieved at the 24 Hours of Le Mans last year is extremely important for the brand. Come to Maranello and see our car in the museum, enthroned in front of the F1 the most legendary in history, proves that this GT program has the full support of the brand, and this success will only strengthen it. It makes you proud and it brings back great memories.

What was the key to this victory?

All season, we only thought about that, the 24 Hours of Le Mans. We based all our preparation on this race. In previous years, we sinned by unreliability. Particularly in terms of suspensions. During the pre-race briefing, we decided not to be too aggressive on the curbs and various small elements at the front underbody had been modified. We ended up with an impeccable car at the end of the race.

Et il va de soi que nous disposions d’une bonne voiture. Peut-être pas la plus rapide, mais assez pour l’emporter. Ce fut cependant serré, puisque nous avons terminé avec seulement 49 » d’avance (sur la Porsche n°91 de Bruni-Lietz-Makowiecki. Ndlr). Et quel plateau : 18 voitures et 6 constructeurs qui tous, hormis BMW, ont mené à un moment donné. Certes, je ne suis pas très objectif (rires. Ndlr), mais c’était l’édition à gagner en GTE Pro. Et y parvenir 70 ans après la première victoire de Ferrari au général, ça ne pouvait mieux tomber.

Is this the best moment of your career?

In the Top 3 for sure, with this 2017 season which saw us (with Alessandro Pier Guidi. Editor's note) become the first GTE world champions and my first drive in an F1, at Monza (with Force India. Editor's note).

You are today considered one of the references of GT. Did you have to change your style to achieve this?

Yes, quite drastically even. When I joined Ferrari in 2014, I immediately got into the rhythm. But I kept going out. I can't say how many frames I damaged. Everyone obviously remembers my accident during testing at Le Mans (in 2014. Editor’s note), which forced me to withdraw. And then I finally had something click. All these failings forced me to take a step back and change my approach, my attitude.

Did you learn from Gianmaria Bruni?

To be honest, I didn't really know who he was when I arrived. I met him for the first time during a test session in Vallelunga (Italy. Editor's note), at the beginning of 2014. I immediately saw how fast he was. I was young and I had everything to discover. So yes, I would have been stupid not to take inspiration from it. We were teammates in 2016, then he left for Porsche.

You seem to have since taken on the role of leader of the AF Corse team. Do you like it?

I think the situation is no longer the same. Don't see any lack of respect towards Gimmi, because I have a lot of it, but we have had our greatest successes since he left. Today we work more as a team. We all get along really well. For my part, what has changed is that the guys trust me. If I want to try this or that thing, even if they have doubts, they do it for me.

AF Corse is the most modest team in GTE Pro, which does not prevent it from winning. How do you explain it?

The team has won everywhere it has gone. Amato (Ferrari. Editor’s note) is a special guy, an extraordinary guy. He is very experienced but above all endowed with rare intelligence, and he maintains a great relationship with Antonello (Coletta, director of Ferrari GT Competizioni. Editor's note) and all the parties involved. But he also knows how to be very strict when necessary.

The first few years, he even scared me a little (laughs. Editor’s note). As for engineers, they have very traditional, if not “old school” ways of working. Sometimes it challenges us, but it wins.

The current season, however, has not been without its challenges...

At Silverstone, there was this error (the #488 51 GTE received a drive-through for imaginary overtaking under a safety car. Editor's note) which cost us the victory. In Fuji we only finished 4th due to a misplaced Full Course Yellow and in Shanghai we initially lost our victory on the green carpet (front splitter too low on one side. Editor’s note). It's a lot…

The court of appeal finally ruled in favor of Ferrari and you have reclaimed your Shanghai victory, and 2nd place overall…

Yes. And fortunately, because with only 6 cars entered, a disqualification destroys your title hopes. What happened to us at Silverstone, on the other hand, cost us precious points (18, which would have reduced their gap on the leaders Sorensen-Thiim from 26 to 8 lengths. Editor's note) and that is very frustrating. I hope it won't have an impact at the end of the season. But we are back in the fight.

The arrival in September 2022 of the LMDh raises doubts about the future of the GTE. Does wearing the Ferrari colors in the premier class make you dream?

The ACO is working hard to restore the premier category to its former glory. There is still much to be done to ensure that LMDh and Le Mans Hypercar have equal chances of victory. Today, the GTE is governed by a performance balance. Doing the same in the premier category promises to be a real challenge. But it goes without saying that for Ferrari to claim overall victory again at the 24 Hours of Le Mans would be extraordinary. And yes, if it came to fruition, I would like to be an actor.

Is this your dream today?

I don't know if that's the word, but we drivers always want to go faster and I would like to be offered the chance to win the overall. Even more so with Ferrari. For the brand, for Italy, for sport, it would be crazy. Honestly, I don't know what their intentions are. But we are all pushing for this to happen.

Are you frustrated that you didn't get your chance in F1?

I was 3rd driver for Force India, but I never had the opportunity to start a Grand Prix. But today, I drive for Ferrari in the WEC and I participate in all the biggest races in the world.Endurance of the world. Let's avoid being choosy, this is a huge opportunity. Especially since I now add Formula E with Jaguar.

So let's get to it: are you satisfied with your beginnings?

It is a championship focused on the future, with a high level of competitiveness and which is gaining momentum. The learning curve is steep, but I have already managed to score a few points (10, thanks to a 7th and an 8th place. Ed.), which is very encouraging. If you put qualifying aside, I had some great races with around ten places gained each time. But starting from the back of the grid is not ideal.

I thought I would suffer in the race and not in qualifying, but the opposite is happening. So I'm working hard on the qualifiers. I learn with each turn I complete. Just like on the simulator, where last time I tried to change my style a little, which allowed me to gain 3-4 tenths.

Do you have the feeling of returning to your first love, the car ?

Yes in the sense that I am alone in the car and it is a sprint. Technically speaking, however, there is little or no support. Many underestimate the technology of these super “intelligent” cars, which need to be understood to get their quintessence.

Quali lap done, put everything on the line

Thanks @JaguarRacing she was hooked up!#ABBFormulaE #MarrakeshEPrice #JamesCalado #JC51 #JaguarRacing pic.twitter.com/Ffrvjr4zKn

— James Calado (@CaladoJames) February 29, 2020

The team is doing a great job on that front, helping me get to the level required to fight for the win. There's no reason why I can't do it. The car is very competitive, my teammate (Mitch Evans, 2nd thanks to 2 podiums including 1 victory and 1 pole. Editor’s note) proved it.