After two races with the new Alpine, is it fair to say that the exploratory period is now over?
Yes, with pre-season testing followed by Silverstone and Spa, we have really got to know the A460. Great improvements have been made in terms of driving comfort. It’s a real pleasure to be behind the wheel. We now have to work on performance. It’s still a long way off showing its full potential, but we’re heading in the right direction.

What is the biggest difference compared with the previous model?
The environment first and foremost. We now have a closed cockpit which changes your perception considerably. It is also much more effective in terms of downforce and corners more quickly. The A460 is more efficient all round!

Did the switch to Dunlop tyres cause any problems?
The opening round was rather difficult but it was a good learning curve. At Spa-Francorchamps, we had a better understanding of the tyres and as the temperature was unusually high for the time of the year in Belgium, it meant that running conditions were closer to what we can expect at Le Mans. We made tremendous strides in terms of what we got out of the car which was our main objective. This progress is what gave us our extraordinary start to the race and helped us move up to fourth place. Unfortunately, an incident with a GT put a damper on it but the win for #36 is an enormous confidence boost ahead of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. We still have to progress in some areas and some little things to improve but we know where we’re going.

As the Spa race is often seen as a dress rehearsal for the 24 Hours, you should be full of confidence as you head towards Le Mans.
Yes, it’s just a shame we had that accident at the end of the race with the GT! Despite starting a long way back on the grid, we managed to climb up to fourth with two hours to go. With the puncture, the rear wheel started to rip off the hood and I had to stop. Having said that, the win for #36 is fantastic for the team and shows the quality of the work accomplished. It bodes well for Le Mans.

You are the lead driver in #35. Are you happy with your Chinese teammates?
They did a good job at Spa and the atmosphere is great. David (Cheng) and Ho-Pin (Tung) have known each other for some time so it’s really up to me to fit in, but it’s going brilliantly. Our teamwork is getting better from one test session to the next and from race to race. The signs are positive.

PHOTO: STAVELOT (LIEGE PROVINCE, BELGIUM), CIRCUIT OF SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS, FIA WEC 6 HOURS OF SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS.