Estre: “I really wanted to take all the risks”

How do you feel after this lively race? 

I am very disappointed and very sad. This is a second place acquired in one of the toughest endurance events, or even the most difficult in the world. So we should be proud of it, but it will take a little time. For the moment (after the podium. Editor's note), it's only sadness and disappointment. We have everything to win, the team and the car. We always had a good lead, between one minute thirty and three minutes. 

Is the penalty appropriate?

Laurens made a mistake, he did not see the yellow flag. We didn't gain any time in the affair, but we lost five minutes in the pits. It's the rule, it's like that, but it's hard.

Pictures Resuming our race! At 5min32 stop & go cost us the victory… 2nd in the end! It's still the best place on earth but today I hate it. @manthey_racing @PorscheRaces #n24h pic.twitter.com/z8iS5TEhNW

— kevin estre (@kevinestre) 23th June 2019

You performed one of the most spectacular maneuvers of this edition to take the lead on Saturday evening. Can you explain this half-way overtake in the grass?

I went back up as needed on the Mercedes in first place. I was 30-40 seconds late. I took the first opportunity that presented itself in Döttinger Höhe. I took her vacuum but there was another car lingering a little further in front of her. This slow car was on the right of the track, so I knew he (Dirk Müller) was going to move to the left. I started to shift before him, but as soon as he saw me move, he shifted way more than he should have.

We've got a new leader, as @kevinestre in his @manthey_racing @PorscheRaces put the pressure on @muellerdirk. Impressive stuff! #24hNBR pic.twitter.com/z58avWREsp

— ADAC TOTAL 24h-Rennen Nürburgring (@24hNBR) 22th June 2019

I had already decided to go to the left. I stayed there. He left less than half a car between him and the grass. I told myself that I had to insist, I stayed all the way! We didn't touch each other, but it was just right. It was a nice overtake, but beyond that we took the lead and built the lead from that point on. 

As we begin the final relay, what are we thinking? To the victory at hand, or to the work to be done? 

I gave everything. I tried to do the qualifying rounds one after the other. I really wanted to take all the risks. Unfortunately, we were too far away, then we had a tire problem. We calmed things down on the last lap and came back slowly. I passed along the side of the road a few times and got scared two or three times. The team was afraid that I would crash so they calmed me down by radio. 

You parked the Porsche far from the podium, in the style of Sebastian Vettel after his penalty in Canada. Was there a link? 

The organizers decided to put me in parc ferme. It's not like Hag, because in my opinion he made a mistake and took a five-second penalty. For us, it's five minutes and thirty seconds.