Interview with Thomas Laurent – Graff

In 2017, Thomas Laurent took the victory in the LMP2 class at the 24 Hours of Le Mans with Jackie Chan DC Racing, finishing the season second in the overall classification.

He then competed in the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) with Rebellion Racing and is currently racing in LMP2 with Signatech Alpine, with two second place finishes to his credit in the first four races of the 2019-2020 season.

Q: Thomas, you will drive for the 2020 season in European Le Mans Series, where you were nominated 2016 Rookie of the year, as well as in the FIA WEC. What has motivated this choice?

“I was 2016 ELMS Rookie of the Year and I have great memories about it. ELMS is a championship that I like, and I was proud to be part of it in LMP3 for my first year. My choice to come back in European Le Mans Series is mainly because of the grid that has a huge potential, a high level with a lot of cars especially in LMP2 and LMP3.

“Personally, I need more mileage to be more at ease in the FIA WEC, knowing that we are using the same car with Graff and Alpine.

“I was also committed to come back in ELMS and I think that we have what it takes to fight at the front and for the victory this season. It’s been two years for me that it’s complicated to fight for the victory, especially with Rebellion Racing in WEC with the domination of the Toyota. I’m really happy to come back to ELMS and I can’t wait to be in Barcelona for the Official Tests and the first race to feel the atmosphere, to see what we can do. And we will try to be strong to scare the competition! I’m here to gain experience and grab the title at the end of the year.”

Q: You will drive alongside Alexandre Cougnaud, with whom you already shared the wheel with, as well as your former engineer at Jackie Chan DC Racing. Did this helped you in taking your decision?

 “Yes, I will join two people that I know very well. First Alexandre, we are both from the same region in France, so I spent some time with him in the Sables d’Olonne or around the tracks. We won Road To Le Mans together back in 2016. I have great memories with him, I think he is one of the best silver of the grid, of course we will wait for the full entry list to see who are our opponents. I’m really glad to have Alexandre in the team, especially because I don’t know James (Allen).

“The second good news is that Greg Wheeler, my former engineer at Jackie Chan DC Racing when we won Le Mans and were vice world champion, will be with me and it helped a lot in my decision to join Graff. I trust him and he told me that the team was great, with great mechanics, that it’s a young and dynamic team, all I was looking for. With Greg, I think we have a lot in common, he has all my trust, I know he can set up a really good car, we really get along and I’m excited to drive the car with the set up he knows.”

Q: What is your main goal for the new season in European Le Mans Series?

“The main goal is clearly to drive as much as possible to gain mileage in the car. As we have the same car with Graff and Alpine, I will be able to train twice as much, which is really positive. We are here to win, to score podiums and most of all to win the championship at the end of the season. We will do everything to reach our goal, we have a good line-up, that can, I think, have really great performance. I think the team is mature enough to prepare a reliable car and Greg, my engineer, will set it up perfectly, I’m sure of it! It’s a whole, and I think we have a top team this season, I hope the others are scared because we are here to win!”