Tell me about IDEC Sport: “We sponsor several sporting events. Sport is very much part of who I am and the same goes for the company and staff. IDEC Sport is at the crossroads of sailing and motorsports. We also cover football and rugby. We attract sponsors from both fields. It’s a well-known fact that it’s hard to find financial backing for motorsports. Yet sailing is a different kettle of fish altogether. It has a much better image with companies and in the media. We attract sponsors to one discipline and manage to extend their interest to motorsports. They tend to make more of the sailing aspect in their internal communication, but they are still happy to get involved in motor racing. They just don’t want to talk about it. Which is crazy really! They put sailing first."

Jules Verne Trophy attempt: "IDEC Sport is backing Francis Joyon and his team in their bid to beat the Jules Verne record of the round-the-world voyage under sail (non-stop and with no assistance). They left a few weeks ago but returned to Brest because they got caught in the infamous doldrums (the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ), the area encircling the earth near the equator where the northeast and southeast trade winds come together). They will be making another attempt soon. Francis Joyon holds the record for the fastest single-handed sailing circumnavigation. It’s a big challenge for him, because he’s naturally a loner. But he’s coming up to sixty and has quite taken to being part of a team. It has to be said that he is surrounded by some extraordinary people. They’re all great. They are the only ones attempting to break the record. I hope they pull it off."

Looking back on the 2016 European Le Mans Series with the Ligier JS P2: "As far as the team and the drivers are concerned, it was a great season. It was our first with a Le Mans prototype. I did the Le Mans Series when I was with OAK Racing in 2011. But five years later, it was like starting all over again. 2016 was all about learning. I’m satisfied in that the whole team (engineers, mechanics and drivers) improved with each race, culminating in sixth place in LM P2 at Estoril. I’m glad I focussed the team on this project this year before we move on to higher things."

Looking to 2017: "We won’t be able to play the novice card any longer. We’ll be building on what we learned in 2016. We know what we need to improve, especially practice sessions which weren’t our strong point. We’ll be doing the European Le Mans Series and the the 24 Hours of Le Mans next year if we are selected. Le Mans is the number one priority. I’m going to be 56 soon, so time is not on my side. I don’t want to leave it too long to do the race with my son and give it my best shot. I don’t want to lose 10 seconds a lap. For the time being, I feel great. Next year will be a turning point. After that, Paul will team up with other, more experienced drivers."

How about the car(s)? T"here’ll be a Ligier JS P217. We were the first to order it and expect delivery in February. Ideally, we’ll have two cars, to get twice as much feedback. That would be a great challenge. The second one could be an LM P3, which looks to be an excellent product. We feel we’ve got the right line-up for the class. There’s nothing definite yet, but we’re 80% sure we’ll have two cars. Three would probably mean spreading ourselves too thin, but two is a good compromise. We want to be in the top half of the field. Whatever happens, we’ll be aiming higher next year."

Photo: Adrenal Media