Nicolas Lapierre: “We have taken a step forward”

L?an dernier, pour la première apparition de Toyota en WEC, during the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Nicolas lapierre had greatly impressed with the TS030. We will remember this daring overtaking, at Mulsanne, on Benoît Tréluyer?s Audi R18 e-tron, a few seconds before Anthony Davidson?s accident on the team?s other car. If the Mancelle race ended with a retirement shortly after midnight, the rest of the WEC season was punctuated by three victories.

As the 2013 season kicks off, Nicolas Lapierre approaches the season humbly, but with a certain confidence: “For 2013, we still have a few questions to resolve before Le Mans. It is a very demanding event and once again it will not be an easy race. But we are working hard to get there! When it comes to WEC races, we are in a good position. I even think some people might consider us favorites in the six-hour races compared to Audi.”

Toyota presented last week the new evolution of the TS030, a car which has clearly progressed according to the driver: “We have taken a step forward. Today we are able to focus on the details, which could make the difference. In the cockpit, for example, the control devices are much easier and the driving position is improved. All of these things may seem like small details, but when you put them together, they make you faster. »

Find the complete file of the presentation of the Toyota TS030 in this week’s AUTOhebdo n°1898, available here.