After a successful season in Formula Le Mans (LMS Champion), Andrea Barlesi moves up to the LM P2 category. At only 19 he will compete in the ILMC with Oak Racing.

Tell us about your first contact with the Pescarolo LM P2?
Andrea Barlesi:"It started rather badly because I had a 39 degree fever! The doctors at the Vallelunga circuit gave me medication strong enough to get me going. As I sat in the car, I had a knot in my stomach and I stalled!"

Is it impressive compared to Formula Le Mans?
"Yes, it makes more noise, and there are more engineers around. I was really impressed but the team put no pressure on me and it was simply a 'discovery' of the car."

What were your feelings at the wheel?
"The car is fast and stable thanks to its very effective chassis. It takes a while to get used to the 'closed' environment, and all the buttons you need to know to handle 300 km/h!"

And performance?
"The engineers were satisfied with the feedback that I gave, that was most important to me. My lap times have improved finally. I was the fastest of the three drivers. However, we drove with the aero package from last year."

When you test new developments?
"Testing soon. It will take place once the car is complete. I am impatient to know what it will be like, but the 12 Hours of Sebring will arrive very early for everyone ..."

How are your preparations for Sebring?
"I work by watching videos from onboard cameras. I note the points of braking and steering. But mostly, I train a lot with video games! I have an seat-wheel-pedals simulator connected to my computer! I work double stints to improve concentration!"

And are your teammates good teachers?
"Yes. I learned a lot from them. At Vallelunga, Guillaume Moreau impressed me. Dunlop engineers gave him four tyres he was unaware of the characteristics. After just five laps, Guillaume was able to give a highly accurate report ... But how is it possible to feel so many things in a tyre? I can see work that remains to be done!"

Le Mans in a little over three months,  will it be a dream ...?
"I can't wait! Le Mans is magical and even F1 does not have such an atmosphere. It's a race team in which everyone must make compromises. Endurance racing is the best driving discipline that exists. "

Julien Hergault

Photo: AUTO PASSION CAFE (Paris), Andrea Barlesi interview, February 26, 2011. Might this young man be dreaming of a Peugeot V10?