By the end of the first day’s practice at Francorchamps, Porsche had made its ambitions clear: their two cars top the timesheets, ahead of the Toyotas. Car #1 driven by Bernard, Webber and Hartley is in front of #2 which has Dumas, Jani and Lieb at the wheel. One member of the world champion constructor’s squad seems even happier than the others: Brendon Hartley. The young New Zealander’ season didn’t get off to the best of starts when he smashed his 919 Hybrid into the Porsche 911 RSR #86 driven by Michael Wainright. Hartley is usually very chatty but today, under the blue Belgian skies, he’s quietly content that he’s been able to bounce back. Hartley is an endearing character who was destined for an F1 career with Red Bull until he rose too high, too soon and burnt his wings. The team dropped him and he was forced to take a long, hard look at what he wanted. The story could have ended there, but in fact it was just the beginning. Porsche took him on in early 2014, which led to one of the most decisive moments of his career.

When I was a kid, all I could think about was F1, he smiles. It was definitely my dream. I’d heard of Le Mans but I had no interest in it until I actually went there. The 24 Hours came as a real eye-opener. I’d never have thought that I would enjoy it so much. I really fell in love! The circuit, the scale of everything, the crowd… It was a revelation!

In 2015, he made the world’s greatest endurance race his season priority.
I can’t deny that I’m aiming for the top of the podium, he goes on. It was already quite an achievement to be up there on the rostrum last year, but to be on the top step would be even better!

Well aware of the progress made by his rivals, he realises that the climb to the top will be as steep as Le Raidillon here at Spa-Francorchamps. Yet he appears full of confidence – for both this weekend’s dress rehearsal in the Ardennes and for the 24 Hours.

I'll admit that Audi caught us out at Silverstone, he confesses. We knew that they were going to be very competitive this season, but we didn't expect it quite so early on. That said, I remain convinced that we are still in the lead. Instead of making big improvements in just one area, we’ve made steady progress on pretty much every front. The geometry, suspension, transmission, electronics, the batteries – everything has undergone development, even if you can't tell from the outside!

During qualifying this afternoon, he’ll be giving it his all to demonstrate just what the car is capable of. Meanwhile, the Toyota threat lurks...


J.-Michel Desnoues / ACO Translated from French by Clair Pickworth

Photo: LE CASTELLET (FRANCE), CIRCUIT PAUL RICARD, WEC PROLOGUE, 25 MARCH 2016. Brendon Hartley will be aiming for pole this afternoon.