Philippe Sinault (Alpine): “The Test Day remains essential”

Philippe, are you satisfied with this Test Day?

I am very satisfied with the work accomplished. The Test Day always seems trivial and its purpose is sometimes difficult to perceive, but it remains essential. It allows us to put ourselves “in mode Le Mans » and to validate what we have put in place, to make everyone understand, especially internally, that we are there. This also allows us to clearly assess where we are, what we still have to prepare for the test and to take stock of it with the tools we have. It went quite well at that level.

What is your opinion on the Balance of Performance for these 24 Hours of Le Mans?

It was readjusted after Spa (May 6), because we were clearly lacking in top speed, as many people have noted, notably at the ACO and the FIA. It has been readapted according to the profile of the 24 Hours route. At first reading, we still lack a little top speed, especially in sector 2. We are better in sector 3 with our aerodynamic load, but the advantage of Toyota and Glickenhaus in the second sector does not seem to be compensated in the third. There is still a balance to find and refine between now and Saturday.

Are you hoping for a little more additional power from the legislature?

What is essential in this type of situation is to exchange. This is what we do with the legislator. We show confidence in him. It is up to him to see if he has the means and the will to make changes. He has more relevant tools than us to measure whether he can do it and how he can do it. We sent him the information, we communicated with him on Sunday and again on Monday. He has all the elements to change something, if he wishes.

Did you intentionally hide your game during this Test Day?

Everyone revealed themselves a little more. We displayed a level close to real, worked the long stints and tried several sets of tires. Matthieu (Vaxiviere) carried out an exercise relating to performance, Nicolas (Stone) was supposed to do this too, but that was wiped out by the red flag. What emerges is that it is complicated for us in a straight line, but it is also complicated to manage the traffic with the LM P2s. We are more comfortable in the twisty parts, but that's not where we overtake.

Is there not enough difference in top speed with the LM P2s?

As far as we are concerned, yes.

Thomas (Tribotté. Editor's note) explained to us how he implemented the strategy for the race, that is to say starting from the end. Did you manage to implement what you wanted during this Test Day in relation to this?

We have to analyze the eight hours of driving this Sunday and that still takes a little time. It's time for analysis, and perhaps adjustments between now and qualifying.

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