Nicolas Lapierre: “We know it’s going to be tough”

Nicolas, how do you feel about tackling the Spa 1000kms?

“We’re determined to take our revenge after our disappointment in the Le Castellet 8 Hours. We showed our level of performance and now we have to turn it into a result. In parallel, we know we’re still learning before Le Mans, especially at Spa where we’ll be up against very tough opposition. We’ll be able to see where we stand in relation to the works Peugeots and Audis. I love Spa. I’m always delighted to go there – even more so this year!”

How important is this race?

“As everybody says, it’s the final rehearsal before Le Mans. The field is very like that of the 24 Hours. I think each team is going to give 100% and we’ll have a much clearer picture of the overall situation after Spa. It’s important to have a good race to put us in the best possible frame of mind. It’s the last opportunity to find our marks - especially as Loïc will be with us - and to hone our skills.”

Will you play a waiting game as you’re up against Audi and Peugeot?

“No, I don’t think so. We want to be in the thick of this battle as much as possible. You can’t play a waiting game in a six-hour race. It’s a real sprint run at a searing pace right from the start. We know it’ll be hotly contested. On the other hand, our main aim is to gain experience for Le Mans. We have to find the right balance. The quality of the field may well be high but so are our aims!”