Thiriet by TDS Racing leading the ELMS and at Le Mans 24 Hours

Pierre Thiriet, you are back at Le Mans with Thiriet by TDS Racing for the second consecutive year.  How are you feeling about it?

The Le Mans 24 Hours is a really special race and even if my experience is still limited, all experience is good to take.  We have all done Le Mans before but in different cars.  After two races here, I have learnt how to manage my time and the traffic, as well as learnt about the type of driving required and how the team works.  I really feel the difference between my first and third time at Le Mans 24 Hours.

This isn't just another endurance race, it's the one which represents a full year of preparation and, for an endurance driver, it's the most important of the season.  We prepare to the max, but it's a pleasure to do it which doesn't diminish from year to year.

Amongst the ELMS team present at Le Mans, who are your biggest rivals?

There are several but, in terms of being competitive, you have to say Jota because they are very fast and very competitive.  Signatech Alpine is also a very good team, with a tight-knit line up who will be right up there. Whatever happens, these two teams are our rivals not just here at Le Mans but for the whole ELMS season.

Frenchman Ludovic Badey is competing in the 2013 Blancpain Endurance Series.  He took part in his first Le Mans 24 Hours at the wheel of a prototype in 2012, but wasn't lucky enough to take the chequered flag.  In 2013 he has joined the Thiriet by TDS Racing team to reach that goal.

You drive GT cars for the rest of the year; how different is a GT to drive from a prototype?

Truthfully, today's GTs are going quicker and quicker.  They are highly developed, but although speed is important that's not where the most striking difference lies.  Where everything changes is concerning downforce and carbon brakes.  Thanks to the fact that we can use very different aero set ups, prototypes can go through corners far quicker than GTs. The other factor is obviously the carbon brakes which allow us to brake later…

What are you hoping for in the 2013 Le Mans 24 Hours?

I am very happy to put to good use my limited experience from last year – you learn in everything you do – and to share it with a great team.  Thiriet by TDS Racing is now a reference in endurance racing and I am proud to race with this team.  It's always exhilarating to participate at Le Mans 24 Hours and still more to be able to experience it again in a leading team.  What's more, the ambiance is really nice and we'll have a great time for sure, no matter what the result is…

­­­­----------------------

Maxime Martin is taking part in his third Le Mans 24 Hours.  The Belgian, a BMW factory driver who is more than familiar with endurance racing in GT, was behind the wheel of prototypes for his first two races (LMP1 and LMP2).  Second at the Nürburgring 24 this year in horrendous weather conditions, he proved himself to be masterful in the wet.

Your skill at driving in the rain is well known; is this an advantage at Le Mans 24 Hours?

It's true that I like the rain and driving in these conditions but the weather will be the same for everyone and, no matter what it is, the track will be massively changeable.  You have to first and foremost know how to adapt to it.  Nevertheless, yes, it's certainly an advantage to like the wet but you also have to have a good car, the right tyres at the right time etc.

I really like a lot the team I'm going to be doing Le Mans with for the third time, and it would be really great to be able to give them a good result.  Thiriet by TDS Racing lacked the bit of luck needed last year to be able to get on the top step of the LMP2 podium, and I think they have the potential to get there.  We have a good chance to do as well and possibly better, with a consistent line up and a good car.

Xavier Combet team manager:

How do you see your 2013 Le Mans 24 Hours going?

Ask me again on Sunday eveningJ!   It's true to say that we have a good team and great determination but the weather conditions would appear to be tricky and changeable.  At our level of competition, LMP2 cars are more or less identical in terms of performance but the question mark that concerns us the most is to do with the tyre suppliers who have all worked very hard.  This is particularly true after the return to the category of our friends from Clermont Ferrand, whose tyres  we know work very well in the rain.  But our partner Dunlop knows about this and will certainly be equal to them.  For our part, we will pay attention to strategy, make the right choices at the right time…do our best.

Le Mans doesn't count for the ELMS season.  What are you hoping for here?

Le Mans remains the point of reference in endurance racing.  When we started in LMP2 we chose the ELMS to learn about the discipline, but our main objective has always been to do the Le Mans 24 Hours.  With a podium finish at our first attempt here, our course we wanted to return to improve on that and beat our own performance.  It won't be easy, the level of competition has been heightened technically and in terms of drivers and teams.