Scrutineering: "It's pretty relaxed because it's the same day we arrive at Le Mans. Mainly it's just a great joy to kick off 24 Hours of Le Mans week after Test Day. You're in the thick of it then and you say to yourself, I finally made it! It's also your first interactions with the public."

The first qualifying laps: "Test Day is more special than Wednesday because you've been waiting for the opportunity to hit this track for a whole year. On the Wednesday before the race, you're happy but also in the middle of preparing for the race. You can't get carried away by the thrill of being there and it's important to save your energy. You have to tell yourself it's a race like any other, just do your work as best as you can. The real payoff is still being there on Sunday at 3:00 p.m., and with a good result if possible!" 

The Drivers' Parade: "It's the last event before the race and it's all about bonding with the public. They come from all over to enjoy the festivities and celebrate, diehard motorsport fans and average people alike. It's a unique experience in a driver's life. You put everything else in the back of your mind for two hours, but as soon as it's over, you're back in race mode. You have to know how to manage that while still taking full advantage. It's not easy to find just the right balance!"

The start: "That's a magical moment, part of the tapestry of a career. It starts during the warm-up lap, you look around a bit and it dawns on you how tremendous and magical it all is. There's also a fair share of anxiety and that's normal. But as soon as the light turns green, you're off and forget the rest!"

Retirement: "That's definitely the hardest thing to take, especially when you're in the running for a podium finish. It's important to have a very cohesive team, people who are there for you. When you have a close-knit team, you win together, you lose together. That moment is rendered even more difficult if you have few races in the year, so when you fail to finish one, it's devastating! But it also allows you to appreciate future good results all the more!"

The podium: "It's magical! I was fortunate enough to claim a podium finish for my first participation (third in LMP2 in 2014 at the wheel of the Signatech-Alpine team's Alpine A450 shared with Nelson Panciatici and Oliver Webb, Ed.) and that will always be one of the greatest moments of my life. It's for those moments that we do this sport! It's just unforgettable, but you can't forget if you make it to that podium, it's mainly thanks to the entire team supporting you, and your loved ones who have pushed you since you started out. It's also a reward for all the sacrifices you made to get that far. Meanwhile, you have to stay humble but enjoy it because it goes by so fast."

Nighttime at Le Mans: "It's pure joy when you're at the wheel, it's magical. Still though, when they wake you up at four in the morning to go do your stint, during the first 10 minutes you're like what am I doing here (laughs, Ed.)? But after that, it's so great because you feel a little more in the zone in the middle of the night, you feel the calmness all around you. After such a crazy week, there's finally a bit of serenity. That's particularly true around three or four in the morning."

Between stints: "I really try to detach myself from the competition as much as possible. I have two teammates, they know what they need to do. I take the time for debriefings with my engineers, I get a massage, I eat, I relax. I try to follow what's happening in the race as little as I can because it drains too much energy. I try to use the time to recuperate as fully as possible."  

Before participating in his fourth 24 Hours of Le Mans on June 16th and 17th (tickets), Paul Loup Chatin will take the start at the 4 Hours of Monza in the European Le Mans Series on May 13th. He scored pole position at the first ELMS round at Le Castellet. 

Pictures from MPS Agency