Are endurance races a new chapter in your career as a driver?

"Last year, in the Blancpain Endurance Series (European Grand Touring car series, editor's note), I did some endurance races. They're three-hour races with two other drivers. But truly long races, for me, it's this year with Alpine in the WEC World Championship and I'm very happy. I'm taking advantage of every moment."

Does it feel good at the wheel of the Alpine A460?

"I got used to the car fast. The prototypes with a lot of aerodynamics are pretty simple to drive. Le Mans is a unique circuit with a lot of fast turns. It's kind of an old school circuit but that's what I like. It took me a few laps to get used to it because here you do not do your first lap at 110%. During Test Day, the car did very well. We've already tweaked the settings. With Gustavo Menezes, Nicolas Lapierre is our captain. He knows how to prepare a car for the 24 Hours."

Does Nicolas Lapierre give you advice?

"Since the beginning of the season, he is very open and gives valuable advice. Between now and the race, I will have some questions to ask him, but I'm not too demanding. It's how I am. We sleep, all three of us, in the same bungalow and we spend a lot of time together. We ask him questions about sleep and nutrition during the race since he has already participated in the race eight times. It's great to have him as a teammate."

Of what moment are you most dreading during this week?

"During the race, I hope we won't have to deal with rain or fog like at the 24 Hours of Nürburgring. I want to be comfortable at night quickly to feel confident. There are blind turns like the Ford chicane where the slightest path gap is prohibited. I am looking forward to see how it goes at night. I want to take the time to get everything together and what's great is the 24 Hours of Le Mans is a race you prepare well in advance."

In your opinion, why do drivers like the 24 Hours of Le Mans so much?

"There are a lot of reasons like the public or Scrutineering in downtown which make it a grand event. Le Mans will remain the biggest endurance race in the world. In the mind of a driver, there is Formula 1 and Le Mans. When you get here, you realize the caliber the race has become over the last decades."

Translation by Nikki Ehrhardt / ACO

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PHOTO: After having climbed the ranks in single-seaters, Stéphane Richelmi is breathing new life into his career by participating in the World Endurance Championship (WEC).