WEC – Loïc Duval: “I don’t feel any particular pressure”

On Saturday evening, at the end of the 6 Hours of Shanghai, there is a strong probability that the identity of the World Champions ofEndurance 2013 is known. Inscribed on the Audi R18 e-tron quattro n°2, Loïc duval, Allan McNish and Tom Kristensen have a comfortable lead of 40,75 points over their stablemates and final rivals Marcel Fässler, André Lotterer and Benoît Tréluyer. However, the Frenchman sets his sights on achieving a fourth victory this season.

“It would be a lie to say that I don't think about the title, admits the pole sitter and winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans 2013. My teammates and I are definitely thinking about it. Personally, I try to ignore it and think above all about winning the race for Audi, for which China represents the most important market. To achieve a good performance you will not have to be "inside", start to build scenarios and calculate the points necessary to win the title. We will therefore approach this event as we have done for all the previous ones, with the objective of fighting for victory and having fun. I don't feel any particular pressure as we find ourselves in the best situation compared to our opponents. It’s up to us to be calm and run the best possible race. »

En plus d’avoir à contrer des équipiers revanchards et deux Toyota TS030 Hybrid s’annonçant redoutables sur la piste chinoise, le natif de Chartres va devoir composer avec une inconnue, à savoir le tracé. En effet, n’ayant pas été l’un des titulaires du Audi Sport Team Joest en WEC Last year, the Habs did not have the opportunity to ride in Shanghai. “My first visit to China was in 2007, he remembers. I then came to race on the Zhuhai circuit in A1 GP under the colors of Team France. After Sao Paulo and Austin, Shanghai will be the third track that I will discover this season. A situation that I particularly like. This breaks with a certain routine of running regularly on the same routes. I will be able to count on Allan and Tom who know the route well. Last year, they were the most efficient of the Audi clan. I will also have the necessary track time to learn the circuit, get my bearings, appreciate the overtaking zones... I'm not too worried. »

See you on Saturday morning (in France) to find out if Loïc Duval has become, after his compatriots Yvan Müller and Sébastien Ogier, the third Frenchman crowned in 2013 in an FIA World Championship.