Kevin Estre: “The RSR means a lot to Porsche”

Kevin Estre, whatever the result of these 8 Hours of Bahrain, what assessment do you draw from this season?

I'm happy with my level of performance, I rode well all season. In terms of results, the 24 Hours of Le Mans are a big disappointment (second behind the Porsche No. 91). This is where we lose points. We made small mistakes and that cost us the race and potentially the championship. 

You have a special livery for this weekend, what can you tell us about it?

It is a livery that has represented the RSR since the beginning of the GTE Pro category. With a piece of the “Pig Pink” (victorious at Le Mans in 2018), a piece of the 2017 RSR, another of the Brumos (2019), etc. It's cool to have that, plus the names of the drivers who drove these cars and the victories they had with them. I am proud to have my name written on it thanks to the success we have had in this championship. The garage and the combinations are also associated. We see that the GTE Pro category and the RSR mean a lot to Porsche. It's good to have this nod for the end of your career.

What do you remember from all these years in GTE Pro with the RSR?

My first race (6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps 2015. Editor's note) when I was an official driver at the time McLaren. It was a great opportunity and a nice surprise that McLaren allowed my participation. We finished third (with Sven Müller on #91 of Team Manthey. Editor's note). It's a very important event in my career because it unlocked my Porsche contract. There is also the victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans with the “Pig Pink” on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the brand and with this special livery. It was my first big success in Endurance.

The world champion title at the end of the 2018-2019 super-season was an achievement. We (with Michael Christensen. Editor's note) made very few mistakes, we were performing well all the time, aiming for victory in all the races. There have been ups and downs over the last two seasons, especially last year's finale. It was very tense with the Ferrari against whom we were fighting for the championship (AF Corse n°51) and this was decided ten minutes from the finish (on a collision between Alessandro Pier Guidi and Michael Christensen. Editor's note). It ended badly for us, but it was extraordinary emotions. The race was so crazy that there are still good memories to keep. 

The Porsche 963 is the next step in your career. How are the tests going?

It wasn't very easy at first with quite a few small issues, which is normal on a brand new car with a hybrid system and lots of different companies working to build it. We made good progress this summer and the 36-hour test in Sebring (USA) was really positive, much better than any test we had done before. We have two or three more performance tests, mainly in the United States, before the first race at the 24 Hours of Daytona (January 28-29, 2023). We are in the approval period and we hope to have made the right choices. Time is of the essence, but we have done everything we can with the means we have to produce a reliable and efficient car.

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