A few hours after the first free practice session of the 2022 European Le Mans Series season, Michael Fassbender, Pietro Fittipaldi, Sophia Floersch, Antoine Doquin and Yifei Ye took part in the first ELMS press conference of the year. Whether they are in LMP2, LMP3 or LMGTE, all share their thoughts and ambitions for the year ahead.
CLICK HERE for the full transcript from the press conference
Michael Fassbender - no93 Proton Competition Porsche 911 RSR-19
Q: Welcome back, Michael, a third season in the ELMS and arriving here on the back of a spectacular race for you in Portimão at the end of last year. Tell us what you've learned about the challenges here in those first two years. How are you going to apply that with a third season now with Proton?
MF: “It was nice to get the result in Portimão because we're kind of knocking on the door for a while. I suppose the first season for me it was such a baptism of fire stepping into ELMS. Just because of the traffic, you know, dealing with the LMP2 and LMP3 cars. Just processing all of that mentally. I found that quite exhausting. So, the first year was very tricky and thankfully Proton Competition they’re such an experienced team, and very successful team. So really surrounded by the best people.
“And then just trying to make progress. Obviously trying to get faster and try and sort of just understand the traffic management better. And, you know, have a clean race. Portimão worked out pretty well, which was just trying to hang on to the leading pack and wait for opportunities.”
Pietro Fittipaldi - no43 Inter Europol Competition Oreca 07-Gibson
Q: You’re part of a very famous motorsport dynasty, but there is a gap in that history amongst your family members and that is Le Mans. How much does that mean as you come up this pyramid of sports car racing through the ELMS?
PF: “I think both my uncles raced at Le Mans Christian and Max Papis and I grew up watching them race the Daytona 24 hours. That's kind of the race I would always go to every year when I was young to watch them race. And that's what got me into racing. I'm very excited to be racing the 24 hours of Le Mans. So, it's going be my first year. And representing my family also, it's always an honour.
“I think we have a strong line-up to be able to do well, but it's so competitive. The ELMS is competitive, the World Endurance Championship as well. There are so many cars; I think there's 17 on the grid here, and even more for Le Mans. So, it's going to be pretty crazy, but, I think, it's going to be great. I always hear great things about Le Mans.”
Sofia Floersch - no19 Algarve Pro Racing Oreca 07-Gibson
Q: Welcome to your first full season in the European Le Mans Series aboard the no19 Algrave Pro Racing Oreca in LMP2.You are already part of ELMS history after a brilliant run at Portimão with APR and the first ever female racer. We'll talk a little bit about that in a moment to stand on the overall podium with Ferdi Habsburg and Richard Bradley. You're back this year with the same team, but with a new teammate Bent Viscaal. What's the goal this year in what we've already recognised here as being a hugely competitive LMP2 category?
SF: “The end of season last year that the final for Algarve Pro Racing with Richard and Ferdi. We had a really good weekend; we finished on the podium and it's just a lot of fun. We had many talks with different teams. But I had the trust in Algarve Pro Racing and that's why we decided to go with them for the whole ELMS season and also for the 24 Hours of Le Mans and with the WEC. We're just two drivers in our car, in car number 19 with Bent together, but, I guess, that's more driving time. So, we will enjoy it and the goal is always to win, obviously. But there's many really competitive teams, with very good line-ups. So, the race on Sunday is going to be long for us, but we will try our best and see where we end up.”
Yifei Ye - no37 Cool Racing Oreca 07-Gibson
Q: This is your third season of LMP2 racing, once in Asia, once in Europe and now back here again. And you've won both those titles. We've got a huge field, the biggest prototype racing field in the world outside of the Le Mans 24 hours here between LMP2 and LMP3. When you look up and down this paddock and indeed up and down this row. Where do you see the threats coming to from you making a perfect three out of three?
YY: “I think it looks a lot easier than it is in real life to win a championship and especially to win it in a row. We have put many things together last year in my Asian Le Mans Series and European Le Mans Series championship. To try to win for sure we have to have a good coverage and we have a good line-up. And the fascinating thing is that we always have strong field in the European Le Mans Series, especially LMP2 category.
“We have newcomers like Prema Racing, we have the teams which have participated in the championship for years. We have Panis, we have IDEC, Algarve Pro, for whom I have driven for in Asia Le Mans Series last year. So, there are many strong teams around and many newcomers. And we have to always keep humble, we have to try always to look for more performance and then to be top of the game.”
Antoine Doquin - no27 Cool Racing Ligier JS P320-Nissan
Q: You had a great season with Cool Racing last year, with Josh Skelton winning at spa and three pole positions. You are stepping up now into the ELMS with Cool Racing and some great times in testing as well. What's the biggest difference in that step from the Michelin Le Mans Cup paddock and over here into the big pit lane?
AD: “The biggest difference between the Le Mans Cup and the ELMS is the LMP2 traffic, we have to manage a lot because they overtake is quite hard. So, we have to manage it and also the GTS because they are faster than the GT3 last year; so that's quite difficult. But I will say that the most difficult difference is the traffic.”
CLICK HERE for the full transcript from the press conference
