Le Mans – Laurent: “I can’t make it happen”

When we visited you in mid-April, you already didn't realize that you were going to participate in the 24 Hours of Le Mans...

Yes, because until a few months ago, that wasn't even the plan. So it goes without saying that realizing the fact of having won the event in LM P2 is even more difficult. Taking part in Le Mans was, for me, a 1000-horsepower dream. But there is victory in LM P2 and second place in the general classification, the icing on the cake. It’s nice, I’m not going to say otherwise. I don't really know what to say except that I can't realize, even if I'm constantly told that I was at the top of the general classification of the 24 Hours of Le Mans for an hour, at the wheel of an LM. P2.

Saturday afternoon, you drove straight to Indianapolis. What happened ?

I'm not even sure if I'm entirely responsible for it. I got back to the box and everyone told me it wasn't… I'm not going to lie, it upset me. After the end of my first stint, I was really embarrassed but Oliver (Jarvis. Editor's note) came to cheer me up by telling me that the race was still very long. They comforted me more than anything else...

How did you experience the arrival?

À 10-15 minutes du drapeau à damier, les Chinois ont commencé à se regrouper et à chanter « DCR 1er et 3e ». Dans le coin des ingénieurs, je disais à Oliver ne pas aimer ça. Il est allé les voir et leur a rappelé la mésaventure vécue par Toyota l’an passé (problème technique à l’amorce du dernier tour. Ndlr). Et ça a calmé tout le monde… Je ne suis pas allé voir mes parents car je savais que mon père était en larmes et que si je l’apercevais, j’allais pleurer aussi. Sur la remontée des stands, quand certains me posaient les questions, je sentais que les larmes montaient et je m’efforçais à rester calme. C’était beau…

Discover the full interview with Thomas Laurent in issue 2120 of AUTOhebdo, available now in digital version on all platforms and on kiosks.