Nicolas Lapierre will be this season managing the team Cool Racing alongside Alexandre Coigny, as well as being at the wheel of the n°37 Oreca 07.
He talked us through his new role as manager of the Swiss team and the upcoming season.
Q: The 2021 season will see you as both the driver of the no37 Oreca-Gibson and also as Managing Director of Cool Racing. This is going to be a busy season for you both in and out of the cockpit, how will you approach both these roles this year?
“This season will be in the continuity of what I did the past few years which is coach the team and bring my knowledge and skills. This year, we have the full control of the team so we will have more work to do outside the circuits in terms of preparation and organisation. We have the right people around us and we have built a strong team. I’m really excited to be on track and combine my role as a driver and a manager full time.”
“Concerning the races, we will still have the same line-up, the same car so we can build on what we learned in the past. The only change will be with the Goodyear tyres, so it’s a package that we know well and that we will have to optimise but I think that the biggest part of the job we’ll have to do will be outside of the track and not inside.”
Q: Cool Racing has enjoyed success at all levels of endurance, with victories in the FIA WEC and MLMC and podium finishes in the ELMS.What is the goal for Cool Racing in the ELMS now that the team have entries in both LMP2 and LMP3?
“In LMP2, the main goal will be to win the Pro/ AM championship. With Alexandre (Coigny), who is one of the best gentleman drivers, and Antonin, who is now a Gold driver, we have a great line-up. I hope that the fact we kept the same drivers will be an advantage for us.
“In LMP3, we will also try to go for the championship. Nicolas Maulini will join us as our Bronze driver. We know his level of performance and we are now finalising his teammates. We will do all we can to have a car that will be between the front-runners. It will also be an important car for the team’s development.”
Q: You say you will be challenging for the new Pro-Am championship. What do you think of this new classification ?
“We are really happy of this new championship as more and more Bronze drivers are racing in LMP2 and they did not have any dedicated championship. It’s a great initiative from the ACO and I think that this championship will be very successful.”
Q: The LMP2 category is ultra-competitive and you are racing with Antonin Borga and Alexandre Coigny again.Do you see having an unchanged driver line up as an advantage for the 2021 season?
“It’s obviously an advantage. In endurance racing the symbiosis within the teammates is a key element for the performances and results of a team. Here, we know that we have a solid basis, we all know each other well and we all know our roles. Alex improved a lot last year and is now one of the best gentleman drivers. Antonin is still improving, and he stepped up from Silver to Gold so now he will have to work to be among the best Gold on the grid. Being able to work like this is clearly an advantage. “
Q: Which of the six ELMS events are you looking forward to the most and why?
“Honestly, if I were asked to create a calendar with six races in Europe to race in LMP2, I would have done exactly the same calendar that the ELMS gave us. I am really happy of all the rounds and tracks chosen. We will race on great tracks where we can take a lot of pleasure. To answer the question, I would say that the Circuit Paul Ricard is beautiful, and it is in France. But I am also glad to go back to the Red Bull Ring that have a short and different lay out. I can’t wait to go back on track on all of those circuits.”
