Nicolas Lapierre: “One of the best races of my career”

How easy is it to recover from a race and a victory like this?

It was a bit difficult, especially since having won Le Mans more WEC, at first, you don't really understand. It takes a little time to make. For the title even more than for the victory. Due to the fact that it was long and the races were spaced very far apart, this Super Season was not easy to manage, especially to keep the pace.

What have you done since you crossed the finish line?

We had a few beers and dinner with the team in hospitality. It didn't last long because fatigue quickly took over and I went to bed around 21:30 p.m. I returned home on Monday before going to present the trophy at Plus (its long-time sponsor. Editor's note), which was launching the season of its rugby team which plays in Pro D2 (USON Nevers Rugby. Editor's note). I went to Cool Racing on Thursday, which was organizing an evening with its partners to say more about its future projects and announced in a slightly more official way our arrival in the WEC and our presence at the next 24 Hours of Le Mans. Finally, I am about to go to ECAUT (Automotive School, editor's note), which graduates mechanics working at Cool Racing, who requisitioned me for the graduations.

The emotion that overwhelmed you upon arrival made you a web star!

This camera was, it is true, quite explicit. But I think it's good that people realize a little of what we're going through. For various reasons, this race was special for me. As a fan ofEndurance, Le Mans remains the Holy Grail, a race that only takes place once a year. When you compete in a championship, if you miss a race, you can make up for it the next time. There, if you mess up, you have to wait a year. The sporting stakes were high, since we had two trophies to win, that of winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the WEC title. And then, it was my last race at Signatech Alpine. When you achieve what we have accomplished, it fills you with pride. So when you cross the finish line, you relax, you enjoy, and you let yourself be overcome by emotion.

It must have felt strange to compete in your last race with Signatech Alpine exactly…

During the three and a half years that we spent together, we managed to build something very solid. The team has reached maturity and obviously leaving it is not easy. But that’s life in motorsport and this new challenge offered to me with Cool Racing corresponded to what I was looking for, so it was difficult for me to refuse it.

Did you feel like you had covered the issue?

I like to see teams progress, young engineers climb. It’s perhaps even what I appreciate most in motorsport. At Signatech, we had reached the end of this process. I felt like I was just flying. But I was keen to finish on a good note, because the last race will be remembered for a long time. We had a great race, flawless, I leave with peace of mind.

What did you say to yourself with Philippe Sinault, Team Principal at Signatech Alpine, after arrival?

We didn't wait for the arrival to speak to each other. It wasn't easy telling him I was leaving. “We don’t know what the future will hold,” I told him. Maybe one day our paths will cross again. The team has reached a level of performance and maturity capable of allowing them to hope for other things if the premier category were to expand. You never know... But we leave each other without regrets, with the feeling of work accomplished and knowing that we had great moments.

Last year, G-Drive was above the rest. Can we talk about one of Signatech’s most successful services? Alpine ?

Last year we suffered in the pits. On the track, we were performing well, but not at the level we were this year. There, we were in the match in every way and throughout the week. We ran flawlessly and yes, in my eyes, this is Signatech’s most successful race Alpine.

During the last races, Jackie Chan also seemed to have the advantage in pure performance…

Yes, it's true. We knew that the championship would be played at Le Mans and the team spent a lot of energy preparing for this event. We have been working with Le Mans in our sights for a long time. In the end, it paid off, because never before this season have we had such a high-performance car. And we finish all WEC races on the podium, proof of the seriousness of the team.

When did you feel like you would be in it?

Test Day is always complicated to analyze. I would say from the first official tests of the race week. We never had a clear lap in qualifying, but the potential was there, we lit the sectors purple. At the start of the race, the same, we followed the leading cars without worry while saving a lap of fuel compared to some. Our only doubt concerned the Silver of G-Drive Racing (Job van Uitert. Editor's note), younger and sharper than Pierre (Thiriet. Editor's note). But from the start, Pierre found himself in a direct fight with Van Uitert, who was on new tires, and he was in the match. He kept the pace of a young guy who rides really hard and from then on, I knew we were really equipped to do something good.

However, everything did not go as in a dream...

We had a lot of pressure, the race was super close and two safety car interventions relegated us to more than two minutes. While there was only a 6s gap between us, the first Safety Car pushed us back to 2s. It was hard to accept, because having the same pace as #1, we knew it would be difficult to catch up. Then, we took a second in stride and found ourselves at 10’26. There, going back to regular was mission impossible. Despite everything, we didn't give up, we came back and G-Drive was the victim of a mechanical problem (starter, at 2:15 a.m. Editor's note). But we didn't slow down.

Do you think we need to find another solution for Safety Cars?

It was frustrating because the ACO wanted to put fewer Safety Cars after what happened last year in GTE Pro, and to favor Full Course Yellows. They are aware of the problem. Afterwards, when there is a big exit like that of Marcel (Fässler. Editor's note), you can't blame them for bringing out the safety car because the main thing, at that moment, is to intervene as quickly as possible. possible at the scene of the accident. There is certainly no miracle solution, but perhaps we should still seek to improve the principle of neutralization. In a race, it can balance out, but this was not the case and if G-Drive had not encountered problems with the starter, it might have cost us the victory.

Did you have fun?

It was great. The first six hours were incredible, definitely one of the best races of my career. The G-Drive Racing stand was right next to ours, we had the same strategy down to the last lap, it was a magnificent sweep. We feasted.

During the season, you moved from Dunlop to Michelin. Was this a turning point?

It worked. The tires, in terms of performance, are very close. The difference is not colossal. But we worked better with Michelin than before. We have built a very effective working relationship, even though we paid for this change at Sebring where we sinned performance-wise. And for good reason, we were not able to carry out tests beforehand. But what followed proved us right.

You were talking about the very competitive side of LM P2. We saw good teams, like Duqueine, who had the same package, at a clearly different pace. Isn’t LM P2 just a question of fine-tuning?

Certainly. Especially on a circuit like Le Mans, so specific. For a team like Duqueine Engineering, which arrives without knowledge of the terrain, it’s complicated. You have to have very fine adjustments, a car going fast in a straight line but still generating downforce and all that takes a little time. On other circuits it's easier, we showed it at Monza with Cool Racing, where we took pole position even though it was only the team's second outing with the Oreca 07.

Four category victories in 5 years, 100% success in LM P2, this is not a common feat...

When you know everything you need to do to win this race, winning it four times in four starts in LM P2 is pretty incredible. I am often asked how this is possible. Honestly, when this happens to you, you can already consider yourself lucky that on four occasions your car did not break down, that on four occasions you had a high-performance car and the right teammates. It's not given to everyone. I am just one link in the chain and I was also lucky enough to be in the right places at the right times. Even more so given the number of cars entered (20. Editor’s note) and the level of certain trios. LM P2 has become a lot more professional, both in terms of drivers and engineers, it is becoming very competitive. You have all types of drivers and in particular young people who are emerging like Van Uitert, guys who have won in F1 like Pastor Maldonado, or like Vergne who is in full swing in Formula E, or a De Vries which shines in F2. Me, I'm enjoying it. Even more so with these current LM P2s which are extremely efficient and devoid of all these hybrid systems. It's pure racing.

Were you surprised by the number of congratulatory messages after arrival?

I received a lot of affection and it was great. Our victory was even more notable than in 2016. Perhaps also because the fight was in LM P2 and GTE Pro, and not in LM P1, and the TV production made no mistake. This is what people want to see.

What about Toyota Gazoo Racing ?

I received a lot of messages, in particular from Rob (Leupen, vice-president of the Team. Ed.), with whom I exchange a lot. But also engineers, pilots. Everyone was happy for me and it warms my heart.

Do you think you express yourself better in a structure of reasonable size in which your role goes beyond that of the pilot?

In a factory team, there is no point in having a driver who gets involved in other things. At Toyota, my role was limited to driving and giving my opinion on the technical side. In the other teams in which I have worked, I have my say on the organization, the logistics, the pit-stops, the strategy... This is the reason why I am leaving for Cool Racing, because it is a facet of my job that I really like and that fascinates me just as much as flying. Perhaps at Toyota I didn't enjoy the same fulfillment, because I didn't have the same place? But it was not the place to do it given the staff available.

You are only 35 years old. Does an overall victory still excite you?

It was a great edition, I feel really good, so yes obviously, I always have it in the back of my mind. Over the last two years, I haven't found this LM P1 category super exciting. It didn't make me dream. But I'm keeping my fingers crossed for this Hypercar project. You have to trust the people who put this in place and I sincerely hope that it will work. I had the chance to experience the Audi- duelPeugeot et encore mieux la triangulaire Audi-Porsche-Toyota. C’était génial. Les courses étaient beaucoup plus belles qu’aujourd’hui. Donc, il est certain que si la classe-reine vient à s’étoffer à nouveau et que de nouveaux constructeurs arrivent, je serais super heureux de retourner dans cette catégorie et d’avoir une nouvelle chance de l’emporter au général. Je pense que je viens de boucler mes 24 Heures du Mans les plus abouties et me sens en pleine possession de mes moyens. Mais aujourd’hui, je ne ressens aucune frustration, je m’éclate et prends énormément de plaisir à piloter ces LM P2 dans une catégorie super disputée. Je sais que je m’épanouirai durant les deux prochaines saisons avec Cool Racing même si les objectifs sont différents de ceux que j’avais avec Signatech. Après, nous verrons ce que l’avenir me réserve.

After your victory at the 12 Hours of Sebring last year, still look at yourself a little on the side ofIMSA ?

Yes, I even received an offer for the 6 Hours of the Glen (this weekend. Editor's note), but it was limited because Cool Racing remains my main program and I therefore don't want to do it as a dilettante. But I love IMSA and if the opportunity to do the three or four big races (24 Hours of Daytona, 12 Hours of Sebring, 6 Hours of the Glen and Petit Le Mans. Editor's note) presents itself, I will be delighted. .

What goals do you have with Cool Racing?

I am committed to them until the end of 2020, so for the 2019 and 2020 seasons of theELMS and for the 2019-2020 WEC. Our goal is to move the team forward as quickly as possible. You have to put everything in place and give yourself the means to succeed. The long-term idea is to run two cars, but we don't want to skip steps. This season, for example, we are not performing, we just want to learn. As proof, I don't drive as much as allowed.

Still, next year, everyone will be waiting for the pass of five in Sarthe...

At Le Mans, you never know what can happen, but that will clearly not be one of our goals. Cool Racing will participate in the 24 Hours of Le Mans for the first time and we will have a Bronze driver (Alexandre Coigny. Editor’s note) in the crew. Our primary goal will be to finish the race to gain as much experience as possible.

When are you going to rest?

I have a few days of respite before starting testing again on July 1st with Cool Racing. This will allow us to work well because there are still quite a few things to put in place. The next ELMS race is coming quickly (July 20, in Barcelona. Editor’s note). Afterwards, I'm going to take care of my little wife, since a happy event awaits us at the end of August. I'm going to take this opportunity to prepare the room.

Photos © DPPI