Duval: “Revenge, not war”

Loïc, how do you feel about continuing your collaboration with Oreca?
I am very happy because we are working in continuity with Oreca. I did my first freelance job with them in 2008 at Le Mans. In 2009, it was not possible to ride the whole season but at the end of the year, they called me to ride in Asian Le Mans Series. In 2010, Hugues showed his confidence in me because I drove the Peugeot 908, which was a very important project for Oreca. It was a very interesting year. After Le Mans, we talked about the future, naturally for me as well as for the team afterwards. We thought it would be good to play the full season together. It will allow me to come back to Europe and have an interesting program within a team that I like, with a driver that I like.

Tell us about Nicolas lapierre, your teammate this season and who is also extended for 2011?
Nico, humanly he is great. It creates a great atmosphere and that?s the most important thing. We have seen it in the past in A1 GP or this year at Le Mans. The second thing is that we have a fairly close feeling about the car. We have the same criteria when it comes to car settings. It always went well during the races we competed in together. We have a bit of the same driving style, the same base, the same benchmarks.

Did you wait until you were assured of driving a competitive car before extending your contract with Oreca?
I inevitably asked on what basis we were starting. It?s still quite complicated and a little vague. The information is difficult to extract but Hugues (de Chaunac, president of Oreca) always did what he said. He told me to trust him. I have always trusted him and will continue to do so.

But Audi has revealed an R18 that impresses some observers and drivers?
The Audi is very beautiful but Peugeot also has the equipment to make beautiful, high-performance cars. Peugeot notably has the advantage of the closed car because they have been working on this configuration for several years. But Audi remains a formidable opponent. There is work to be done to beat them but I am not at all worried. Peugeot is well prepared and they have worked a lot.

The 24 Hours of Le Mans is obviously the number 1 objective. At what level do you place this race among your priorities?
Le Mans, it's true, is the most important race of the year. You can even miss a championship but win Le Mans and your season is successful. Then, there will still be a complete championship to which we will have to respond. But Le Mans comes first.

After your retirement from the 2010 race, do you have a feeling of revenge?
It?s revenge but it?s not war. We were certainly a little bitter after this race during which we were very fast. Would we like to repeat the same performance? with a better ending? and play a podium. But above all you have to be humble. It's true that we really want to win but there are so many talented drivers who are circling around this victory without being able to put it on their record? Would a podium already be nice? but we want to be the best!

You are the best in a field since you won the lap record during the last edition. Is it gratifying to have etched your name in the annals like this?
It?s true that having the best lap is nice. It’s like recognition. I always had confidence in myself but I was little recognized in the media. After Le Mans, I received non-stop emails and messages. It's gratifying but I gave my best lap for a podium, without any problem! But, with the rule change, he won't be beaten right away.

Are you going to continue racing in Japan?
I continue in Super GT, I stop Formula Nippon, It?s my adopted country, I want to continue racing, the Super GT cars are efficient, there are manufacturers involved, it?s a top championship. I have a full program in Europe and Japan. I won't be bored, it will be very interesting. I have a pang in my heart at the idea of ​​stopping the car but I will focus on Oreca in 2011.