Test Day on 3 June kicked off Stéphane Richelmi's preparations for the 2018 24 Hours of Le Mans and things are looking good. "It went well. The main goal was to give Gabriel Aubry track time since he has never participated in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. We did about 60 laps in all, but the race is just around the corner and we would have liked to have more time to test out some other things. We're hoping the weather will be nice on Wednesday and Thursday for the free practice and qualifying sessions. I'm back at the circuit after a two-year absence and it's fantastic."

Heading into this year's edition of the race, Stéphane Richelmi is feeling a certain amount of pressure knowing he'll be driving the #38 ORECA 07-Gibson winner in the LMP2 class that reached the second step on the overall podium in 2017! "Last year, the team came so close to the overall win as a result of truly exceptional work. I'll admit taking the wheel of the #38 puts a little pressure on me (smiles, Ed.), but it's a good thing. The Jota Sport team (who provides technical support to Jackie Chan DC Racing, Ed.) has a great deal of experience and has already won Le Mans before."

With 20 cars in the class, the smallest detail can make all the difference. "First of all, you have to hang with the right group of cars because if you don't, it can cause you to get stuck in traffic or slowed down by a safety car. There is no room for error given the competitive level of the LMP2 grid this year. Meanwhile, you can't psych yourself out. You have to stay calm, even if you're delayed early on. Those are the marching orders!"

In 2016, the Monaco native won his class at the wheel of Signatech Alpine's Alpine A460 as a rookie, no small feat! "It's a difficult race, with all the pitfalls that come with that. It's true that two years ago everything went our way despite the fact Gustavo Menezes and I were rookies, but Nicolas Lapierre really helped us. It was challenging, but it was great to win the first time out. The first year, the atmosphere surprised me, and Scrutineering and the Drivers' Parade. Now I know what to expect. Having won already gives me confidence and let's me focus on my driving and enjoying myself, that's for sure."

There are two memories of his 2016 victory that really stand out for Stéphane Richelmi. "I have plenty of memories! Everything made an impression on me, but when you climb up on the podium and see the massive crowd below, that's when you realize the magnitude of this race. What really marked me was seeing the mechanics crying after the finish. They give their all, the race is hardest on them. They arrive before Test Day, show up every single day, prepare the cars, never skip a beat. That's incredible. Seeing them with tears on their faces really moved me. Some of them had been doing Le Mans for 10 years, so winning was simply overwhelming!"

PHOTO: LE MANS (SARTHE, FRANCE), PLACE DE LA REPUBLIQUE, 24 HOURS OF LE MANS, SCRUTINEERING, SUNDAY 10 JUNE. Stéphane Richelmi tries his hand at photography during Scrutineering!