SMP Racing is a Russian team with just two years’ experience in endurance racing. What do you think of things so far?

“It’s been great so far. SMP Racing are really committed which is good to see. As soon as they came into endurance racing, they were willing to trust the drivers, even if they didn't know them that well. Viktor Shaytar and Kirill Ladygin both learn fast. They’re really confident behind the wheel. If you suggest they go flat-out around a corner, they don’t stop to think about it. They just do it. Motorsport needs to be open to everyone.”

So have you taken on the role of teacher with them?

“I try and explain how I do things and give them as much information as possible. I’m generous with the advice. They are very receptive but I don’t have much to tell them anymore. They’re now really good drivers.”

In the past, you’ve driven for outfits like Pescarolo Team and Oreca. How do SMP Racing compare to them?

“Every racing team is a combination of different nationalities and people from different backgrounds. When things are managed properly, you get a good team, like Pescarolo. SMP Racing is a great set-up, things are well organised. The staff work well and we’ve got some excellent engineers. It’s an experienced team.”

What are the strengths of the BR01?

“Our strengths lie in our reliability and braking. The car can be unstable but here in Le Mans, we’ve managed to solve the problem. We did some tests at Circuit Paul Ricard before coming here and we were able to nail two or three settings that work well.”

What changes have been made to the car since last year?

“The car’s set-up, preparation and assembly are all a bit different. Compared to last year, there are no real changes though because the regulations don’t allow for that. Our goal is to tweak the settings and push the car to its limits, and it is now close to delivering the maximum."

So what do you need now to be able to compete with the Ligier JSP2 and Oreca 05?

“Here, we don’t really need anything to measure up to the Ligier – we’re actually better than them. Compared to the Oreca, it’s quite hard for a team like ours to build a new car and aim for the top of the LM P2 class right from the first season. Oreca have been able to do that, which is not surprising as they’ve been building cars for years. If we’re to make progress now, we need to be able to make certain changes but the regulations don’t allow for it. Once the car has been authorised, you're not allowed to make any big changes to it.”

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