Tom Dillmann joins Inter Europol Competition for the 2024 ELMS season, where he will race the #43 Oreca LMP2 alongside Vlad Lomko and Sebastian Alvarez.
The French racer has bags of experience, having raced in many senior categories and classes. The 34-year-old won the ATS Formel 3 Cup in 2010, Formula V8 3.5 in 2016 and the Michelin Le Mans Cup LMP3 title in 2022 before racing in the Hypercar category in the FIA WEC last season. He recently tested at Daytona to help the team prepare for the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship opening round.
Q) What have you been up to since testing with us at Daytona, being confirmed in our ELMS programme and what you're up to over the winter break?
"Thank you. After the Daytona test, I went to France, more precisely Alsace to spend Christmas and New Year with the family. The second week of January, I will already be busy with simulator work for the first race of Formula E for TCS Jaguar Racing, and then it will be time to do a few laps on my home sim to refresh LMP2 and fly to Florida!"
Q) You're an experienced race driver, but tell us some things that we may not know about you?
"I like to eat well; I would say that I'm a bit of a gourmet cook! Otherwise, I enjoy going to live basketball games. Outside of racing I just spend time with my family, my two-year-old daughter. I'm away quite a lot, but when I'm not away racing, I have the freedom to spend my time as I wish, which is a huge privilege. It's a good balance."
Q) You've raced everything from Formula E to Hypercar to GTs, this year you'll have an extensive programme with IEC in LMP2. Tell us about your decision to join us, and the challenges you face in trying to further develop an already well-honed race car?
"Since 2016 and my title in Formula V8 3.5, I raced in top professional championships such as Formula E, LMP1-Hypercar or Super Formula but never with a front running team, but smaller outfits.
"It was a valuable experience, nevertheless, a good journey and situation that not every driver can achieve, but I wanted to do something different and aim a little higher.
"I took the decision to stop Hypercar after Le Mans, and now I can say that decision paid off. LMP2 is a good springboard, and I'm super excited for the season with Inter Europol Competition. It's also great to go into every race weekend knowing you have a chance for top results."
Q) You tested at Daytona with the team for the IMSA project with PR1. Tell us about this circuit and how you expect the Oreca 07 to perform there.
"First of all, it was exciting to discover the IMSA environment and the monument that is Daytona! Of course, the banking is impressive at first, the huge grandstand and the different style of pits with every team very close to each other, quite open. It creates a good 'old school' ambience.
"The test went very smoothly; I was trying to be a sponge regarding the regulations and the traffic, soaking up valuable advice. We looked competitive, the team was in place, and the teammates were good. Promising.
Q) The ELMS season is a way away; what do you know about your teammates Sebastian and Vlad?
"I look forward to getting to know Sebastian better; we only spent a test day together. Vlad, I know a lot more as we first met when he raced for Motopark Academy, where I've advised and shared my experience with the drivers since 2011. We then worked together to prepare his LMP2 races on the simulator, and now we will actually race together!"
Q) Lastly, yourself aside, if you could change one thing for 2024, in any capacity, what would it be?
"Even more races!"
