So, how was your 2015?

Our participation in the European Le Mans Series this year was all about learning. We had a hard time at the beginning, having to retire at Silverstone and Imola. Then things started looking up and we marked some precious points at the Red Bull Ring and in Le Castellet. Unfortunately, we withdrew again at Estoril. All the same, it was a good season. Our aim was to get better and better race after race and that’s exactly what we did.
 

How are your prospects for next year?

We’ll be in GTC again next year and we will probably stick with the Aston Martin Vantage GT3. We will enter the ELMS again but are not sure we’ll be able to do the full season. We also compete in the Danish Thundersport Championship and some of the dates clash.
What are the team’s goals for the seasons to come? Our ultimate goal is to take part in the 24 Hours of Le Mans with our Danish team. We aim to be at Le Mans in 2018. Of course, to do that, we would move up a class and compete in GTE.
 

What’s your best memory of the 24 Hours of Le Mans?

There are plenty of memories, good and bad (laughs). Le Mans is no ordinary race. I’ve driven there eight times and when I’m not competing, I watch the race on television. Every time I go, when I get to the circuit, I go straight to the pit straight and it gives me goose bumps just to be there. There’s so much history around that race. It really is extraordinary. All young drivers dream of Formula One. I dreamed of Formula One and of winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans. I grew up with the Steve McQueen film, Le Mans. I’ve seen it so many times. I also admired drivers like John Nielsen who proved a Danish driver could win Le Mans in 1990. [Nielsen drove a Jaguar XJR 12 and has since driven at Le Mans with Casper Elgaard, Ed.] Things have changed since then. Lots of Danish drivers have been to Le Mans, like Jan Magnussen, myself and of course, Tom Kristensen. We’ve proved that Danes can win.
 

And will you be back again in person?

I would like to return to Le Mans as a driver and team principal. But I wouldn’t say no to a seat with another team next year because I think I’d be a good choice of Silver driver. Once we get there, I hope Massive Motorsport will be at Le Mans for years to come. If so, I’ll start off as driver and team manager. Later on, I’ll give young drivers a chance and I’ll be content to stand on the pit wall.

David Bristol / ACO – Translated from French by Emma Paulay

Casper Elgaard’s results at the Le Mans 24 Hours:
2011: ORECA SWISS HYTECH-HYBRID, Hope Racing, with Lammers and Zacchia (retired)
2009: PORSCHE RS SPYDER, Team Essex, with Collard and Poulsen (10th overall, and 1st in LM P2)
2008: PORSCHE RS SPYDER, Team Essex, with Nielsen and Maasen (12th)
2007: ASTON MARTIN DBR9 AMR, Larbre Competition with Bouchut and Gollin (7th)
2006: ZYTEK 06S, Zytek Engineering with Andersen and Nielsen (24th)
2004: LISTER STORM LMP, Lister Racing with Nielson and Moller (24th)
2003: DBA 403S ZYTEK Rn, Motorsport / John Nielsen with Nielsen and Shimoda (22nd)
2001: Dome S 101 JUDD, Team Bla Avis with Nielsen and Katoh (retired)

Photo: LE MANS (SARTHE, FRANCE), CIRCUIT DES 24 HEURES, LE MANS 24 HOURS, SATURDAY 13 JUNE 2009, RACE. Casper Elgaard’s best result in the 24 Hours of Le Mans is a class win with the Porsche RS Spyder.