Armindo: “It’s a team sport!”

Nicolas, you're on pole again here at Estoril. What's your secret?

“Raymond (Narac) and I have done a lot of work this year with the IMSA Matmut Performance team. He's taught me a lot of things about the car as I didn't really know the RSR. Today, I can now say that I feel really at home in this car, as the time I set in the third practice session showed.”

You finished in front of the LM GTE Pros. It was one hell of a performance, wasn't it?

“It's true! But I'm not too unhappy at being slower in qualifying. That'll prevent us from being stuck in the middle of the battle between the pros, and maybe avoid some useless pushing and shoving as well!”

You seem focused on this point…

“It's important for us to finish the race tomorrow. If we can win so much the better, but the crucial thing is to see the flag and not relax the pressure. I don't want to even think about the title and start counting my chickens before they're hatched! I'm focused on my aim, the finishing line as if your concentration lapses you make mistakes.”

What have you learned this season after winning the German Porsche Carrera Cup title in 2010?

“That's there's life after sprint racing! Endurance is much more interesting. The difference is huge. In the Carrera Cup speed is the only thing that counts. It's not the case in endurance, which requires a whole host of qualities: physical fitness, driving, reflection, organization, tactics etc. It's very exciting!”

Did you find it easy to get used to sharing the car?

“When you've been a sprint racer it's difficult to imagine doing this! There too it's more interesting. From a human point of view it's enriching. We work as one and we help each other. It's a collective effort, which makes me think of team spirit. I love this sport. It's very fulfilling.”

Have you any openings for 2012?

“I don't know for the moment. I hope that our performance hasn't gone unnoticed and that somebody will find a place for me next year.”