Nicolas Minassian did not take the wheel at the 24 Hours of Le Mans this year, instead choosing to serve as the sporting director for the DragonSpeed-10 Star team entering the #21 and #22 Oreca 07-Gibsons (the latter representing G-Drive Racing) in the LMP2 class. "I am the sporting director. It is going very well with Elton Julian (founder and owner of DragonSpeed, Ed.) whom I've known for several years now. We have the same ideas, we complement each other pretty well. He knows how to manage his team and he has a great deal more experience in that area than I do. As for me, I've run with many different teams and that allows me to help this outfit make progress. I also have another role, to assist all team members in working together seamlessly and to help create a comfortable atmosphere. To be passionate and enjoy oneself are keys in my opinion!"

The French native keeps an eye on DragonSpeed's two cars. "Elton Julian handles the #21 more however. He is, for now, used to managing just one car, and when you bring in a second one, everything's different, it's not easy. Meanwhile, when you're talking about drivers like Nicolas Lapierre and Ben Hanley at the wheel, they know what they're doing. So my contribution isn't as significant with that driver line-up. I am more in charge of the #22 with the younger drivers (Léo Roussel, Memo Rojas and Ryo Hirakawa, Ed.). My role earlier in the year was to foster a sort of cohesion between the two."

When one asks Nicolas Minassian if his role as sporting director is more difficult than driving, he doesn't hesitate. "It's a little easier to be a driver, I did it for 25 years. It's just as exciting, I realize it's not exactly very complicated. To be a driver is not limited to just being in the car, you have to work with everyone together, get the team behind you and make it so they want to invest their efforts in you. That's an important point, that's how you win races." 

For now, everything is quite on track for the #22 after its second place finish at Silverstone in the U.K. and victory at Monza in Italy. "Don't forget, there is still a lot of championship left, there are four rounds remaining. I know that at some point or another, we will have a problem, everything we're doing is good so that gives us some breathing room. Meanwhile, we are gaining confidence, that's important."

The 24 Hours of Le Mans proved more challenging for the team's two cars. The #21 finished 12th in the LMP2 class and the #22, 17th. "At the 24 Hours of Le Mans, everything was new for the team even though quite a few among us had already participated in the race before. The outfit is still young, we learned a great deal at Le Mans. Remember, we went up against teams who had been competing in the World Endurance Championship for several years, they had a better understanding of their cars and reacted quicker. The race itself was a bit strange because there were less LMP1s and the LMP2s were at a higher level. What surprised me was the reliability and speed of those cars. We lacked some performance level."

This month, the 44-year-old driver will slip his helmet back on for two races. He will take the wheel of the #22 Oreca 07-Gibson at the Red Bull Ring and at the Paul Ricard circuit: "Ryo Hirakawa will be competing in Super GT in Japan. It's truly fun to be at the wheel. It's important to me to continue driving. I've already announced that my career has ended, but if I'm running, all the better. I want to enjoy myself, move forward in what I'm doing with DragonSpeed, help the team make progress and perhaps draw the interest of a constructor one day, whether in GT or other championships. My goal is to find solutions so the team makes progress and people want to come and join the outfit."

Nicolas Minassian will also take the start at the 24 Hours of Spa in a Ferrari 488 GT3 entered by the Spirit of Race team, joining another regular of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Toni Vilander, who drove Risi Competizione's #62 Ferrari 488 GTE in the LMGTE Pro class this year. 

PHOTO (Copyright - VSA/Laurent Cartalade): Nicolas Minassian, at right, with Léo Roussel (center) and Memo Rojas.