Filipe Albuquerque: “When you win Le Mans, you have less pressure”

Are you still angry about Wednesday and the traffic-disrupted qualifying?

I won't go so far as to say angry... but you know, it was my first time in qualifying, because last year it was Paul Di Resta who was in charge of it and we didn't have this issue. Wednesday I had a great car. We finished 2nd in a free practice session, and we were in the top 5 the whole time. And in qualifying? We are 12th… It was annoying because we had a good car. But how is it possible that in an hour's time, we couldn't have even one clean lap? Maybe I planned my turn wrong, but it's just impossible to do it honestly. Between the yellow flags, and the cars coming out of the pits with cold tires or not looking in the mirrors... in short, I think we should divide the sessions. Keep one hour but do thirty minutes with the prototypes and thirty minutes with the GTs. The current system is unfair. And then, if we want to put on a spectacular show, we have to put the fast cars together, that would improve the show and our pleasure. Today it's all about being lucky to get a clean ride.

Starting twelfth in a twenty-four hour race isn't so bad, right?

Yes and no. We have reached such peaks of performance thanks to human beings, with super-fast pit stops and drivers capable of driving to the millimeter, that to take twenty seconds, which represents the time which risks quickly separating us from the leader, you have to take a lot of risks and be lucky. Tomorrow, I'm going to fight starting from P12, against amateur drivers who drive much slower, so I risk destroying my tires behind them. Afterwards, yes, we have 24 hours to recover, but these 15 seconds of delay mean that I will have to take risks in the GTs, which our competitors will not have to take.

You are the title holder in LM P2. Do you still have the same motivation?

Yes yes. The good thing about winning is that you take the pressure off your shoulders. As long as you haven't won, you put a lot of pressure on yourself because you absolutely want to get there. When you won Le Mans, you are more relaxed. As far as motivation goes, it's so great to win this race that obviously it doesn't change. And even if I have already won, it's never enough, I want to do it again. When you're faster than everyone else, it makes you feel good. I'm a driver, and I always want to do awesome things on the track with my teammates.

Can we really see an LM P2 winning overall?

For our sport, I would prefer it to be a Hypercar. Afterwards, if I can win, that would be great too (laughs). No, I'm mainly thinking about winning my class, which would already be huge because it's the toughest. Most of the drivers present in LM P2 will fight for the overall in two years. 

Who are your main rivals?

There are several of them. Our teammates are very strong. Car 23 especially. There is less experience on the 22 but they are strong too. I'd be surprised if they didn't have a good rhythm. WRT has good drivers. Panis Racing Team too. On our side, we have a great chance. Our car is strong, even more than last year I think. Afterwards, it only takes one problem to not win. And there, already with qualifying, we begin the P12 race. Victory always goes to those who spend the least time in the pitlane and who have the least problems. We'll see.