DAGYS: After making your Le Mans debut in 2007, how important was it for you to return as a driver, and to be with a team that has a chance for the overall victory?

Fernandez and fellow countryman Luis Diaz enjoyed their best ALMS season yet in 2009, taking home the LMP2 championship. But with the closure of Fernandez Racing, Diaz has been left without a ride. (LAT)

FERNANDEZ: I absolutely loved it when I went to Le Mans a few years ago. It was the best experience I had in racing for a long time. I was fortunate enough to qualify on the pole and managed to learn the track quite quickly and drive many hours in the race. We finished second after having some mechanical problems. But the whole experience was absolutely magical to me. One of my priorities was to get back with a top team to be able to be in a position to win the race. I feel Aston Martin provides that for me.

DAGYS: Now without the ownership role of a team, will it be easier for you to focus solely on the driving aspect?

FERNANDEZ: Yes and no. My team wasn’t very much of a headache anymore. Tom Anderson, my partner, did such a fantastic job that it was easy for me in that respect. So I never had any issues there. Now I may have some challenges in the beginning as I’m learning to be with a new team. Things like getting new uniforms, new helmets, etc.

But at the end of the day, not having the ownership role does take some pressure off. You’re working for a team with different drivers and you personally don’t have to worry about the development. You just worry about how to improve the team and work with your teammates to improve the whole package. In that respect, it will leave me with more time to focus on my driving.

DAGYS: Right now, AMR has four races planned for 2010, but it has left the door open to add more after Le Mans. Could the new Le Mans Intercontinental Cup, encompassing races at Silverstone, Petit Le Mans and Asia, be on the radar screen?

FERNANDEZ: I think they’re considering all of them. The LMS races, maybe some more in America, like Petit Le Mans as well as the Intercontinental Cup. Like the other top teams, Aston Martin Racing isn’t exactly in the same position right now. They’re considering adding more races and will make a decision pretty soon.

DAGYS: With you becoming an official works driver, would there be a possibility for participation in the GT ranks with Aston Martin, potentially in other European endurance races?

FERNANDEZ: Yes, there’s an opportunity that I may do some races in GT1 or GT2. That’s all open for Aston Martin to decide, but we’ve agreed that I’m available. It really all depends as it’s their call. Obviously we yet haven’t worked together on the race track. They know about me as much as I know about them. Once we start working together, I think things will start shaping up.

DAGYS: Your longtime co-driver Luis Diaz is currently without a ride for 2010. Have you been keeping in touch with him and other former Fernandez crew members still looking for work?

FERNANDEZ: I speak to him all of the time. It’s sad. Most of my guys have gotten jobs, but three of them haven’t yet. I’m happy for the ones that have gotten jobs, but I must feel sad and concerned about the other ones. They’re top notch guys, just like Luis, and they haven’t been able to find a job. Luis is such an asset to a team, but it’s a tough environment right now. I just hope they all find a home for the future.

Adrian Fernandez makes the move to Aston Martin Racing for 2010, with the goal of capturing the 24 Hours of Le Mans. (LAT)

DAGYS: Finally, we’ve heard that you’ve been helping some up-and-coming open-wheel stars in the sport. With your move to Europe, you’ll obviously be closer to them to give a helping hand in their quest to make it to Formula One. Can you tell us more about this initiative?

FERNANDEZ: There’s three Mexican drivers, Sergio Perez, Pablo Sanchez and Esteban Gutierrez, that are close to making it into Formula One. I’m very close to these drivers in helping guide them. It would be fantastic to see one of these guys in F1 and be the first Mexican driver there in nearly 30 years. I never reached that goal. Once I wanted to go to F1, I didn’t have the age and really had a bright future in CART. So I decided to stay there. I hope to help them along the path and will be at some of their GP2 and GP3 races throughout the year.