Interview with Xavier Combet – Thiriet by TDS Racing Team Manageracing

Q: In 2013, ELMS competitors will participate in five races in five European countries, with new innovations and new regulations. What is your approach?

Xavier Combet: The winter was long and it's been an industrious off-season. We are delighted to return (finally) to the track to put into practice all that we've been working on and to do what we love best, to race against our competitors! In addition, to carry No. 1 is without doubt very motivating. With the rule changes made by the ACO (Automobile Club de l'Ouest), we are entering a new era of ELMS and the series' management have really done a great job to energise the discipline. The new race format is very different, and we are eager to see the outcome; three hours of racing instead of six will change a bit the ‘endurance' philosophy – we will perhaps find ourselves in the realm of ‘sprint' races – but, whatever it is, it promises to be interesting and captivating.

Q: Tell us about your drivers for the season.

XC: Pierre Thiriet and Mathias Beche won the title in 2012. Mathias was then called away to run in LMP1 this year but we are delighted that he has been able to find a drive as a professional. One of the objectives of TDS Racing is to help drivers progress to higher levels, so it was very satisfying for us to see it.  Jonathan Hirschi will replace Mathias alongside Pierre for the entire 2013 ELMS season and at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. We know each other well and have always stayed in touch, having raced together in the Megane Trophy at World Series by Renault meetings – we were runners up in 2010. Meanwhile, he had various experiences in both GTs and prototypes and he's very quick, his speed having improved with time, so to speak! With this duo, we've found a good compromise to allow the team to continue its progress and above all to stay at the top. The first runs at Le Castellet backed up our choice because, although he's driven an ORECA before, he found a different kind of car this time, quickly found his bearings in the team and judged the car to be easier to drive.  The key players in the team have all gelled well together and we are expecting a good season.

Q: The LMP2 class is the biggest in ELMS with nine prototypes on track at Silverstone. Do you know your opponents?

XC: Silverstone will be the first round and honestly, it will be good for everyone to get back to the front line to fight for the best possible results. We are up against teams we know well: Greaves Motorsport, Signatech Alpine, Murphy Prototypes and newcomer Morand Racing. It will be very interesting because, despite the fears that we had at the end of last season, and thanks to the work of the people at the ACO, the level has remained good. It is of course too early to tell who will be the best and, for my part, I think we should remain humble at the start of the season because the outcome will be played out over time. We are coming to Silverstone as determined as ever and also composed.  Ever since we've been in endurance racing, we've proved that we never stop progressing and that our results have been generally quite good. We are above all competitors, and our goal is really to move forward so we will continue with this philosophy there.

With just a few days before the start of the season at Silverstone, the teams are ready and motivated by the new format series; new elements which will provide a quality show on the most beautiful tracks in Europe.

Marie-Pierre Dupasquier-Damagnez