Do you have much experience in sim racing?

"I have limited experience in sim racing. I have worked with a simulator to prepare for races, but I've never played in network except during the quarantine on a small scale."

Has the quaratine affected your opinion of sim racing?

"Sim racing is an interesting discipline, but unfortunately I can't give it much time because my seasons are loaded and I have separate professional endeavors as well."

How are you approaching this first edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans Virtual?

"I am tackling it as professionally as possible. It has gotten quite huge with big stars both from motorsport and esports, and it seems like every team is taking this event very seriously. When I represent IDEC SPORT Racing, I always aim to do my best. We are seriously focused on our preparation even though we are aware other teams are better prepared than we are."

Do you feel as much pressure as you do for a real race?

"No, not at all. I'm treating this race like a bonus. It will be a new and great experience. It's a unique event, but it won't impact my career. However, I am taking it seriously and hope to do well. It won't require as much from me as the 24 Hours of Le Mans though."

How do you think you measure up against professional gamers?

"Oh, I think I'll trail them considerably. My goal is to do as well as I can among the professional drivers. I can't hope to place ahead of the sim racers when I've only done four hours on a simulator and they've at least done 24 hours in training. Also, it's their profession. You have to be humble, these are two very different disciplines with shared similarities"

You'll join forces with Richard Bradley and Franco Colapinto. What do you know about your sim racer teammate Josh Purwien?

"I know Richard Bradley well since he's my teammate in the European Le Mans Series, but I don't know Josh much. We've been talking for about two weeks now. He is working hard to give us the best car and understanding of sim racing. I've been happy to find we understand each other very well. It's fun to work with him."

You're about to take on drivers such as Max Verstappen, Charles Leclerc, Fernando Alonso, Jenson Button, Felipe Massa, Lando Norris. Even though it's a virtual race, what does it mean to you?

"It’s nice of course, but I always say that a starting grid for the 24 Hours of Le Mans has nothing to envy of an F1 grid. The special nature of the 24 Hours of Le Mans Virtual comes from the fact it is a historic and unique event during which the best of both worlds meets during a singular race."

How have you been training for the 24 Hours of Le Mans Virtual?

"So far I haven't trained much because I have other work to attend to. I did my first sessions on Wednesday in an RT Simu simulator. Richard Bradley and I will be doing the race at the company's headquarters. I will take part in the final test race on Sunday. Depending upon how I do, I'll try to find more time for some laps."

Is this a good way to pass the time until you hit the track again?

"Yes, it's a good thing. It keeps you in a competitive frame of mind which is your driving force. It's fun and helps keep up the adrenaline, it can't hurt in terms of reflexes. It will also aid in keeping your marks ahead of the 24 Hours of Le Mans on 19-20 September."

When will you be doing your first post-quarantine testing sessions?

"We're going to hit the track on 12 June for the tests at the Spa-Francorchamps circuit. We can't wait. It has been tough during the quarantine not to be able to drive. We've missed it just like everyone else. But, we've seen other drivers returning to the track for about two weeks now. That get's you really raring to go."

What do you think about the LMP2 field of the 88th 24 Hours of Le Mans?

"Every year the field is fantastic. It has been huge the last three or four years with a lot of drivers from F1 or who could have come from F1. There aren't many championships with this caliber of grid. It's wonderful to take part in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. We've shown we do well at this race and deserve to be here. We won the European Le Mans Series crown last season. IDEC SPORT Racing has risen through the ranks step by step without rushing it and that has paid off. We can count ourselves among the top LMP2 teams, but there are so many that it doesn't mean much. In 2014, the best teams could be counted on one hand, but these days you need two and even that may not be enough."

The final test race for the 24 Hours of Le Mans Virtual will last six hours and is set for this Sunday 7 June starting at 10:00. The 24 Hours of Le Mans Virtual will take place 13-14 June. The 24 Hours of Le Mans itself has been rescheduled for 19-20 September due to the current global health crisis.

Click for the 24 Hours of Le Mans Virtual entry list. 

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