Tréluyer: “The DTM reminded me of Super GT and LMP”

If Benoît Tréluyer is less present on the slopes, the experience of the three-time winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans remains valuable for the teams. The 42-year-old Frenchman will soon be requisitioned by Virgin Racing for participate in the Marrakech trials (Morocco) in Formula e.

In mid-December, the Audi driver was already invited to drive an RS 5 DTM in Jerez (Spain) in 4-cylinder turbo version. The French driver was invited to share his experience with AUTOhebdo.

Why were you requisitioned for these DTM tests?

I became a bit of a development pilot-simulator. And I am therefore called upon to correlate the track-virtual results. With this in mind, I have to get behind the wheel of cars at least once or twice a year. It was also a way for Audi to see where I was in terms of performance, and clearly, they were not disappointed.

What do you remember from it?

These are real racing cars, which generate downforce, just the way I like them. It reminded me of Super GT and LMP. The only thing I wanted to do was touch the settings, but we didn't have time for various reasons, including a mechanical problem.

Could this lead to something in DTM?

We never know. My dream would be for Audi to field a car in Super GT, but it's going to have to go quickly and avoid waiting until I'm 50 (laughs. Editor's note). The rapprochement between the two series is taking shape. We would have to change two or three more details for refueling and driver changes, but we are getting closer.

This interview was published in issue 2196 of AUTOhebdo always available.