After racing for French teams ten times at Le Mans, it was all change in 2016 when you came to Le Mans with an American outfit. And you won! As the “most American” of all the French drivers, is that something of a sign?

“For me, I think that what’s really special is my past with the race and the fact that this time, I was part of the Ford return to Le Mans with all the legacy and history behind it. I don’t think my relationship with American teams or things like that really make it extra special – it was the whole set-up. My past and Ford’s past and the fact that they were combined in this one race. Apart from putting the win on my résumé, I think it’s just really special to have been one of the three drivers who will go into the history books for that historic return and that historic win.”

After a series of second places (2007, 2009 and 2011 with Peugeot), a win at last! Do you think you’ll sleep better now that you’ve got that Le Mans trophy?

"It’s tough for me, because I think what I really enjoy is to be a winner with Ford at the return to Le Mans. As a personal thing, I’m still chasing an overall victory. You never know, maybe one day it will be with Ford. It’s two very different things, the Ford GT GTE win and what an overall win would be like. That feel of being privileged to be part of that history from here on out because of how it happened, because personally I still have unfinished business at Le Mans which is winning overall. I can’t say I won Le Mans. I won my class in a very special set of circumstances with a great story. It’s two different things. I won a great win at Le Mans with a great team. Hopefully it’s just the next step of many others in my career.”

Is there any special moment in the race, a particular time when you were at the wheel and that you’ll always remember?

"My first time in the car, I felt very good. I was very happy with my pace and consistency and the way we separated ourselves from the Ferrari and our teammates. The second stint is more memorable, because it was probably the most stressful moment of my career. I had a radio failure and I knew a lot of things could go wrong and I was just trying to make the right decisions. I was really on my own little island trying to make my own decisions and I was not very comfortable with that. It was two very different phases. The first time I was in the car was very enjoyable, the second time was very stressful.”

You are a native of Le Mans and highly respected by the public. Did you have time to feel their enthusiasm during the week?

“I think with the fans I’ve got a very strong relationship and I saw that throughout the week. Nothing too crazy, but a fair amount of support. It’s just really, really special at the very end, standing on top of that podium with a lot of cheers and just a lot of happy faces and the guys very happy as well, happy that I could finally make it up there. It was really cool to be able to experience that and share it. I also saw Henri Pescarolo, a really good friend and someone who had been instrumental in my motorsport career. He was there as a consultant for Eurosport and it was really good to see him. He was happy to see me and so was his wife.”

You arrived at Le Mans on Monday, due to a delayed race and bad weather. After Le Mans, no time to relax with another IndyCar race scheduled. Have you planned any time off to enjoy your success with your family?

We’re on the road now [at the time of the interview, on the way to the IndyCar race at Road America in Elkhart, Wisc.] and there are two more events after that. Then I’ll be in Iowa testing, then I’ll go home. It’ll be nice to regroup with our friends in St. Pete [St. Petersburg, Fla., where he lives], but, as you know, there’s not much of a break. It just keeps going and going. The schedule is hectic, then you have tests between races.”

Photo: Sébastien Bourdais finally tasted Le Mans glory in 2016. While he has not yet achieved an overall win, he triumphed with Ford in the LM GTE Pro class. 

 

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