Rob Smith: “It was a dream come true doing the first laps in Le Mans”

First of all, what do you think of your new car, the F488?

It’s very similar to the last one which is good in most ways. I think there has been an improvement in the brakes and in the aero but at the moment the track is very dirty and I haven’t really felt a massive difference. But now the track is clean and hopefully this afternoon will be a big step forward.

This is the first time you have driven at Le Mans; how did it go?

It was a dream come true doing the first laps in Le Mans! Lot of dust but a dream come true. I had to be careful to do the ten laps this morning, this afternoon we will do some tyre tests and I’m thinking about pushing harder.

In your line-up only Will Stevens has already driven in Le Mans, what advice has he given you? 

He told me to be cool, not do too much and relax so that when the race comes you are not already tired. But I have got not doubts about what I can do during the race. I have done probably ten 24 hours’ races, Dries (Vanthoor) has won Nürburgring 24H and he had done really well at Spa so I think we’ve got the best line-up on the grid.

This will be Will’s first race in a GTE car, what advice have you given him?

To keep on the track! It’s a long race and from the first moment he was really cool.