Timo Bernhard: “Great to do things you think are impossible”

Which is scarier: driving at 369 km/h or being propelled by the boost of the electric motor on winding sections?
At the time, I felt that the car was fast on the straight but I didn't see the maximum speed. The most spectacular was the passage through Kesselchen, at almost 350 km/h, between the trees and uphill, frankly it impressed me! It's a change from my first time, with a small car which barely reached 100 km/h, I had to downshift to negotiate the bend. Whereas with the 919 Hybrid Evo, I didn't feel any rise...

What did you think when the idea of ​​a record came to the table?
The project was born at the end of last year to honor the successes in WEC. When I heard the name Nordschleife, I signed straight away. Of course, it was a crazy idea but with proper preparation and a certain respect for this circuit, I knew we could do something great.

Which is more rewarding: a success at Le Mans or this record?
The impact is similar, I received as many messages this weekend as after my two victories at the 24 Hours. But the performance itself is not comparable with Le Mans, which requires more staff for a race and longer preparation.

You stayed on the outside at the Karussell bend, did you lose time?
With an LM P1, you have to adapt your driving. For example, brake slightly at the top of the crests to keep the nose pressed to the ground, avoid all the vibrators due to the side skirts which gave extra support, and not take the inside trajectory at the two Karussells because of the curved surface . By following these guidelines we could lower the car further and have more grip. In the end, it allowed us to be faster.

Was it possible to do better?
It wasn't a qualifying, I wasn't chasing the last tenths. I only had three tests last Friday, and seven laps in testing. But it's obvious that with ten times more attempts, we would have found other gains. The result fully satisfies me.

Not too hard to get up at dawn?
I got in the car at 8am with a first lap of around 9'45”. But the temperature was already rising. If we waited any longer, the track would heat up too much to achieve an ideal lap. If it were possible, I would have woken up even earlier...

You are an admirer of Stefan Bellof, what does he represent to you?
I was too young to know him when he was alive, but my first racing car memory is his Porsche 956 in Rothmans colors at Le Mans. I've read lots of books about his career, I think he symbolized a new generation of drivers, ultra-fast but very human. I also admire the passion he had for motorsport.
 
Did you receive a message from his family?
Coming home from the Nordschleife on Friday evening, his father, over 90 years old, called me. He told me “Well done Timo, I respect you enormously. » I had already met him 20 years ago at a kart race organized in honor of his son, the Stefan Bellof Memorial Race. I took pole and finished 2nd. We have kept in touch ever since. That really touched me from him.

Having experienced the lap today I have an even higher respect for Stefan Bellof and what he achieved on the @nuerburgring Nordschleife 35 years ago. pic.twitter.com/tGyG77TgPP

— Timo Bernhard (@Timo_Bernhard) 29th June 2018

Your head moved a lot during the tour; not too much headache?
(Laughs) It has nothing to do with the Hunaudières humps! In the last sector at Döttinger Höhe, I said to myself “it's going hard, it's going to do it”, because there were only 20 seconds of effort left. Sometimes it's great to do things you think are impossible. I will remember it all my life.

Did your underwear stay dry?
(Laughs) This will remain a secret until the end!