Le Mans – Lotterer: “Closer in race pace”

Winner three times in Sarthe in 2011, 2012 and 2014 with the R18 TDI then e-tron quattro with Benoît Tréluyer and Marcel Fässler, André Lotterer continued his career in LM P1 in 2017 after the end of the Audi Sport program in WEC, by joining the clan Porsche.

The German driver admits to a somewhat particular feeling for this edition in his new colors. “I feel a little more like a rookie than an experienced driver, confesses the former 2011 Super Formula champion. What I achieved with Audi and my teammates was incredible, but we are aiming for future success.

The task with Porsche is immense, and it is a new chapter in my career, it requires a lot of involvement on my part. This edition will be different. I've always tried to beat this team, and now I'm part of this team, but at the same time it's something important to be part of the Porsche heritage. Being a Porsche driver is something I wanted to add to my career. »

Heat in favor of Porsche

Si Toyota dominated qualifying with a record lap set by the Japanese Kamui Kobayashi in 3'14"791, Porsche was unable to put its 919 Hybrid on the front row for the first time since its return to the premier endurance category. But André Lotterer clearly remains confident in view of the event, he who will ride in the No. 1 alongside Neel Jani and Nick Tandy, third on the grid.

“It’s great to see such performances at Le Mans, Lotterer said about Kobayashi's time. This shows that the LM P1s are superb machines. Kamui had a great time and a great lap where everything was perfect. This is an important milestone in the history of Le Mans and LM P1. The only problem is that it didn't come from us.

They have a great car on one lap, which we haven't managed to get yet. Neel Jani left last night for an attempt, but the timing wasn't ideal. We tried later, but the track conditions did not allow us to get the maximum performance from a new set of tires. The gap was a little "shocking", but Le Mans is about more than qualifications. In terms of race pace, we will be closer, especially during the day with the hottest temperatures. In night conditions, Toyota seems stronger. »