You have raced in Formula One, NASCAR, Rallycross and you are reigning champion of Formula E. How does the World Endurance Championship compare?
“I think it’s a good series and it’s growing. But like all series, the organisers have to be careful with the current economic situation. We need to make things easier for smaller teams and stop the big teams spending so much money. Not that I expect Rebellion to be fighting with Audi, that wouldn’t be fair because they spend so much more. We need more cars, more competition. We don’t want just six cars fighting for LM P1. I’d like to see 10 or 12. Everybody is suffering the same thing, even Formula One. I think from a media point of view, what they’re doing on social media, making the series as friendly as possible, I think they’re doing an amazing job. They want to be as professional as they can. They want to compare themselves to Formula One but I think we have to remember that Formula One is not always the best at everything it does. I’m sure many drivers racing here in WEC are better than some of the Formula One drivers. Yeah, you have the Alonsos the Vettels the Hamiltons, but when you look at the second half of the grid, I’m sure a lot of the top drivers here are better than them. It’s about how much money you have to drive. I think that WEC should understand that they are their own property and do things their own way. I come from America and the way they do entertainment is the best in the world. It’s the same in every sport, from basketball to NASCAR to NHL. Even though the WEC is one of the best series, there is still a big gap between NASCAR and WEC. But in general, it’s a great series and I would love to be able to do as much as I can over here. It’s relaxed, everybody’s friendly, the team is great. It’s the perfect environment."

You’ve raced in the 24 Hours of Le Mans once before, in 2006. [In an Aston Martin DBR9 Team Modena with Antonio Garcia and David Brabham, 4th in GT1, ed.] What can you say about that experience?
“For me, Le Mans was crazy because it was one of the first times I drove a GT. I was 20 years old, I had only done Formula 3 and GP 2. It was the same level of stress as when I drove a Formula One for the first time. I was like ‘wow, what is this place?’ We had no simulators at the time so I had to learn the track just by going out there for the first time. Yeah, so for me it was really, really hard but I enjoyed it a lot. We finished fourth in our first Le Mans. It was an amazing experience. This year’s going to be ten times easier than it was ten years ago. I was so young, I really had no experience, no baggage. Now all these years later it’s going to be a piece of cake in comparison.”

And what are you hoping for this year?
“We’re going to try to win it. There are not many cars in our class—so I expect to win.[in FIA Endurance Trophy For Private LMP1 Teams there are three—two R-One Rebellion Racing and one CLM P1/01, ed.] Winning is our number one goal."

In 1996 your father raced at Le Mans. Ten years later, it was you. And ten years later still, you’re back... How do you feel about that?
"It’s a coincidence. Maybe in ten years I’ll be racing with my brother. That would be amazing. He’s a bit young yet but I’m sure that in ten years’ time he’ll have enough experience." [Pedro Piquet is currently competing in Formula 3, ed.]

What are your plans for the future?
“I just go with the flow. Like with Formula E. I had never dreamed of Formula E and suddenly it happened and I won the championship. Same with endurance, I didn’t plan it. I got a phone call and that was it. Obviously the focus now is Formula E because I have a long-term contract and it’s a long-term project. But as long as there’s room on the schedule I’ll be doing as many races as I can."
 

PHOTO: STAVELOT (BELGIUM), WEC 6 HOURS OF SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS, SATURDAY 7 MAY 2016, AUTOGRAPH SESSION. Nelson Piquet Junior (left) with his teammate Nicolas Prost.