Théo Pourchaire and the "great pleasure" of starting with Peugeot

What feeling predominates at the dawn of this first race in WEC with Peugeot  ?

A feeling of great pleasure. I finally have an opportunity in the World Championship, to represent a brand that's close to my heart, a French brand, and a team I know very well. I've spent a year with the whole team now as a test driver, so I've often been in the simulator, at the test sessions… I know everyone, so I'm much more comfortable. I'm ready to hit the track!

On a particular circuit for you, in Bahrain?

It's a circuit I know very well because we did a lot of testing there in Formula 3, Formula 2There's a lot of pre-season testing, but also post-season testing. I remember 2020, for example, when I competed in the last two F2 races of the season, followed by post-season testing. I've won here twice, in 2022 and 2023, and I'm coming off two consecutive wins in Bahrain in Formula 2, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed for another one! That would be fantastic, especially for a first World Championship victory.Endurance…The team is capable of it; they've just achieved two consecutive podium finishes, the performance is there. However, the race is very long, eight hours, and many things can happen, but knowing that the team is capable of winning adds a little something extra, and I'm going to do everything I can to make it happen.

Did you prepare in any particular way upon arriving here compared to the other drivers?

I think there was a bit more preparation in the simulator. I was the driver in charge of "validating" the settings in the simulator, so I spent three consecutive days at Satory trying several different setups. We started with a base setup that will be used by both cars this Thursday, and it seems pretty good. We'll have to adapt it depending on the track conditions, though. For my part, I thoroughly reviewed the procedures to make sure I know everything. We also practiced driver changes, even though I'm familiar with that in LMP2; there are small details that change, like the door handle, the harness, the radio… As a driver, you want to be 100% ready to make the fastest and most precise pit stops possible during the race.

Were you advised by the team's most experienced drivers, such as Jean-Éric Vergne or Loïc duval ?

We made the driver changes, and Loïc immediately gave me some advice about the harnesses, specifically about loosening them because he's driving with an insert, so he's closer to the steering wheel and a bit higher up in the car than me, being tall and in the standard seat. It's always nice to be welcomed so warmly, and I think they feel comfortable here. As for us in the #94 with Loïc and Malthe (Jakobsen), they're treating me the same way, I think, as they did with Stoffel (Vandoorne), who was with them at Fuji. I have things to learn, that's clear, but the tests are going well.

Is it planned to see you in the qualifying rounds for your first time?

For now, it's not planned, but nothing is 100% certain. The most important thing is knowing how to adapt to situations, but my goal is to learn in more favorable circumstances with less pressure and fewer risks. The aim is to score big points in the championship; we're fighting for fifth place. It's not easy, but I think we have what it takes.

What will be your main challenge during these 8 hours?

To avoid mistakes, to be clean on the track, and to learn as much as possible. When I come to a race, I want to win, that's for sure! So it's hard to say anything else, but the main objective remains to learn and prepare for 2026. The goal is to know everything perfectly for Qatar and to arrive there like a veteran.

Has this LMP2 season helped you prepare for this race?

That helped me enormously. I'm not arriving here with any particular apprehension or extra stress. I know what I have to do; it's a bit like in LMP2. ELMS Because we're the fastest category on the track. What will be different is the race strategy against the other Hypercars, so we'll have to adapt. I'm not too worried, I feel comfortable; having had a year of preparation is really great. Feeling the confidence in the eyes of the engineers and mechanics gives me even more confidence.

Of what car Which would you say are closer to LMP2 and Hypercars?

The LMP2 is a bit closer to what I'm familiar with, whether it's F3 or F2. These are cars with a lot of aerodynamics, and the LMP2 is quite light for a prototype. I think the downforce is as significant as an F3 car, or even greater, and it's close to F2 in terms of power. The Hypercar is more powerful, a bit heavier, and has a lot more electronics. In terms of the complexity of the car's systems, it's closer to a... Formula E or an Formula 1In terms of power, we are roughly at the level of a IndyCarIt all happens very quickly, and then the aerodynamic load and weight change. That's why tire degradation is crucial in Bahrain; in the WEC there are no tire warmers, so you can destroy the tires on an out lap. These are details you have to get used to. It's a bit like in F2 on out laps, even if the tires were different, it's something I need to relearn. I have a lot of experience despite my young age, and that can help me.

Interview by Valentin Glo, in Sakhir (Bahrain).

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