Were you greatly looking forward to returning to endurance?

"Yes, absolutely! I began in endurance in Super GT (Japanese GT championship) and ORECA got me started in Europe in 2008. I stayed with them for years, then went to Audi after that until 2016! It was hard to accept Audi ending its involvement in endurance. In 2017, I didn't have a car in the discipline and I missed it because I enjoy the camaraderie with my teammates. I also like this type of race with traffic. At the end of 2017, when I realized I could do both the DTM (with Audi, Ed.) and endurance (TDS Racing, Ed.), I took a closer look. I am thrilled to be back."

Do sprint racing in the DTM (German touring car championship) and endurance racing complement each other?

"I think so because they're both high level championships. You drive high performance cars and continue learning. However, sometimes it's a bit challenging combining the two. Like at Spa, for example, I had a race at Hockenheim the same weekend as the World Endurance Championship round. I had to get a helicopter. The advantage is I'm able to drive a great deal. Also, because it's sprint, I am able to keep up a certain pace. In the DTM, we're talking about 18 cars within four tenths of a second. The two championship are different, but each has its benefits."

What are your thoughts on TDS Racing after your experiences with two great teams like ORECA then Audi Sport?

"It feels more like returning to a family team. The resources, both human and financial, are not the same as with a manufacturer. It's interesting to work with a small team because it's more reactive. After three races, I know everybody's first name whereas after six years with Audi there were still people I didn't know! The human side is very important. Also, the car's performance level is very high. The LMP2 class has really evolved, the cars go faster than when I debuted at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in LMP1. It's a difficult car to lead, you really have to push it to go fast, the level of drivers and teams is really good. It's a lot of fun."

The 24 Hours of Le Mans is coming up. Do you think having done a round of the World Endurance Championship (FIA WEC) and two in the European Le Mans Series (ELMS) will prove a real advantage?

"The more you drive, the better! The time a driver spends at the wheel...the hours of training done by the team, the mechanics and engineers developing the car are very important. We also have a new driver line-up and these races mean you can run together, to create a certain alchemy between us and help François make even more progress. We know very well it'll be about the Silver driver (the FIA classifies drivers in four categories: Platinum, Gold, Silver and Bronze, Ed.). Le Mans is a very particular race, but we've all done it at least once. Meanwhile, it will be my first time in LMP2 and I know it will be different relative to traffic than in LMP1."

What do you think will be key factors in the 24 Hours of Le Mans in LMP2 this year?

"We are going to work hard and try to do a flawless race! Make no mistakes, spend as little time as possible in pit lane, choose the right tires for the weather and go. You have to survive the night and at dawn see where you stand. Those are the key factors! But as always it will be challenging with plenty of unanticipated factors as well. Whoever reaches the podium will make the fewest mistakes."

You are about to return to a circuit that was very good to you back in 2013 with the overall win. What do you remember about that achievement?

"It's one of the greatest memories of my career! 2013 was a great season. At the 24 Hours of Le Mans I clinched pole position, I wasn't far off clocking the best in-race time and on top of that I won with Tom (Kristensen, Ed.) and Allan (McNish, Ed.). It was a hard race with a dramatic start. I have other good memories of Le Mans, such as my last participation (in 2016, Ed.) when I claimed another podium finish. I would like to do it again with a good result in LMP2 for example. It is a magical place with a remarkable human undercurrent. I have missed the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Last year, I had the opportunity to return, but was unable to because of a date conflict with the DTM. I am happy to be there in 2018!"

What do you think of the LMP1 class these days?  

"We experienced extraordinary years in LMP1 with three big manufacturers, plenty of resources and competitive cars. That's very interesting and exciting from a driver's point of view. Now it's in a transition phase, but Le Mans and endurance are stronger than any downswings. On paper, Toyota has already won the 2018 24 Hours of Le Mans, but we've seen the last few years that the marque is susceptible to technical problems. Also, at Le Mans anything can happen! One of the Toyota S050 Hybrids should even claim the top step on the podium! I'm sure that in LMP2 and LMGTE there will be great battles as well. I think we'll have another very good edition!"

PHOTOS (Copyright - MPS Agency): TDS Racing's ORECA 07 driven by Loïc Duval at Spa-Francorchamps (photo 1), Duval's 2013 victory with the #2 Audi R18 e-tron quattro (photo 2), Duval on the top step of the podium in 2013 (photo 3).