Photo : SEBASTIEN BASSANI ACO

 

The two drivers passed this double test without issue and are on the 24 Hours track for the free practice and qualifying sessions. Wolfgang Reip is at the wheel of the Nissan ZEOD RC which occupies Garage 56 at Le Mans dedicated to an innovative prototype outside of ranking, and Léo Roussel drives the No. 29 Morgan-Nissan of the Pegasus Racing team (LM P2 class).

Léo Roussel: "I think the fact of having introduced a mandatory simulator session for drivers competing in their first 24 Hours of Le Mans is a good thing. When we arrive at the circuit, we already know where the marshals are, how to work with the new system of neutralization zones. On the other hand, one doesn't feel the wind on his helmet. But current simulator technology is so advanced that everything is reproduced identically, at two or three details close."
Wolfgang Reip: "I didn't have any major worries about passing the simulator at the 24 Hours circuit. In any case, it corresponds exactly to what I was picturing in my head, and it's very impressive."
Léo Roussel: "The simulator engineers can throw some surprises your way like rain at one area of the track, for example. There is another difference between the simulator and the real circuit: the fact of not rolling at night during the Test Day, but I had already had the opportunity to roll at night before. It isn't scary, I love driving at night."
Wolfgang Reip: "That day on the simulator was very useful because it is very faithful to the true circuit. On the other hand, one can work on things that I have yet to see at the real circuit: like rain at night. My experience with video games and the Nissan GT Academy allowed me to feel immediate comfortable on the simulator."

Jean-Philippe Doret / ACO - Translation by Nikki Ehrhardt / ACO

Photo : LE MANS (SARTHE, FRANCE), 24 HOURS OF LE MANS, WEDNESDAY 11TH JUNE, 2014, PRACTICE AND QUALIFYING SESSIONS. After videogames, the Nissan GT Academy and the simulator, Wolfgang Reip discovered the Le Mans circuit at the Test Day on June 1st.