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Le Mans / ALMS
LE MANS: Duval Looking For Sebring Repeat
Newly signed Audi factory driver aiming high in FIA World Endurance Championship season opener...
With Nicolas Lapierre having signed with Toyota and Olivier Panis retiring from prototype competition, Audi's Loic Duval is the only driver from last year's overall winning squad to defend his victory at Sebring. (Photo: LAT)
Team ORECA Matmut’s victory in last year’s Twelve Hours of Sebring no doubt came as a surprise to many, but Loïc Duval’s impressive drive in the year-old Peugeot 908 HDi-FAP helped put the Frenchman on the map, and ultimately in prime position to repeat in this year’s FIA World Endurance Championship season-opener.
Twenty-nine-year-old Duval has been the latest addition to Audi’s factory prototype roster, joining Porsche factory drivers on-loan, Timo Bernhard and Romain Dumas, aboard Audi Sport Team Joest’s No. 3 entry this weekend and for the 24 Hours of Le Mans in June.
“I have more pressure because last year we thought we could have done something good but we didn't even think about winning the race,” Duval told SPEED.com. “Here with Audi, there is a big chance to win it.
“But in the end, the most important thing is the [FIA WEC] constructor's championship. So Audi has to win. If it's our car, perfect. If it's not, then we have to make sure we are still second or third. That's definitely the target for the weekend.”
With three of Audi’s 2011-spec R18s entered this weekend, including the two FIA WEC season-long entries led by defending Le Mans winners Andre Lotterer, Benoit Treluyer, Marcel Fassler and veterans Allan McNish, Tom Kristensen and Dindo Capello, the fight for the overall win could be strong.
And Duval hasn’t ruled out seeing some surprise entries mounting an attack, as seen just last year when he, Nicolas Lapierre and Olivier Panis crushed the factory diesel competition and took their semi-works Peugeot to victory.
“We saw last year [with ORECA’s win] and in the past with Timo and Romain with a LMP2 car,” he said. “Last year we won with an old LMP1 car and there were factory [cars] in the race.
“Here, it's something special with all of the yellow flags and safety cars and everything can happen. It's a very long race and until the last hour, you have to stay on track, stay on the same lap as the leader and try to make no mistakes. It doesn't change our point of view. We're just going to try to do our best.”
While Duval, the only LMP1-winning driver from Sebring last year to defend his title, is currently on a one-year contract with Audi, which includes drives this weekend, at the Six Hours of Spa in May and Le Mans, he’s hopeful to land a full-time seat in Audi’s FIA WEC lineup in the future, even if it means giving up his commitments in Super GT and Formula Nippon.
He'll be competing in both of the Japanese series again in 2012, although missing the Super GT round in Fuji Speedway due to his commitment at the Six Hours of Spa for Audi.
“If I had to make the choice for the future, I would be involved 100% with the prototype with Audi,” he said. “We already won everything in Japan. It was perfect for my career; I had a really good time. But if I can come back to Europe, I'm still French and European.
“Now with the new world championship, if I can be involved for the future for the full championship, it would be great to race for Audi for that. If I had to make a choice for my future, it would be Audi.”
John Dagys is SPEED.com’s Sportscar Racing Reporter, focusing on all major domestic and international championships. You can follow him on Twitter @johndagys or email him at
Twenty-nine-year-old Duval has been the latest addition to Audi’s factory prototype roster, joining Porsche factory drivers on-loan, Timo Bernhard and Romain Dumas, aboard Audi Sport Team Joest’s No. 3 entry this weekend and for the 24 Hours of Le Mans in June.
“I have more pressure because last year we thought we could have done something good but we didn't even think about winning the race,” Duval told SPEED.com. “Here with Audi, there is a big chance to win it.
“But in the end, the most important thing is the [FIA WEC] constructor's championship. So Audi has to win. If it's our car, perfect. If it's not, then we have to make sure we are still second or third. That's definitely the target for the weekend.”
With three of Audi’s 2011-spec R18s entered this weekend, including the two FIA WEC season-long entries led by defending Le Mans winners Andre Lotterer, Benoit Treluyer, Marcel Fassler and veterans Allan McNish, Tom Kristensen and Dindo Capello, the fight for the overall win could be strong.
And Duval hasn’t ruled out seeing some surprise entries mounting an attack, as seen just last year when he, Nicolas Lapierre and Olivier Panis crushed the factory diesel competition and took their semi-works Peugeot to victory.
“We saw last year [with ORECA’s win] and in the past with Timo and Romain with a LMP2 car,” he said. “Last year we won with an old LMP1 car and there were factory [cars] in the race.
“Here, it's something special with all of the yellow flags and safety cars and everything can happen. It's a very long race and until the last hour, you have to stay on track, stay on the same lap as the leader and try to make no mistakes. It doesn't change our point of view. We're just going to try to do our best.”
While Duval, the only LMP1-winning driver from Sebring last year to defend his title, is currently on a one-year contract with Audi, which includes drives this weekend, at the Six Hours of Spa in May and Le Mans, he’s hopeful to land a full-time seat in Audi’s FIA WEC lineup in the future, even if it means giving up his commitments in Super GT and Formula Nippon.
He'll be competing in both of the Japanese series again in 2012, although missing the Super GT round in Fuji Speedway due to his commitment at the Six Hours of Spa for Audi.
“If I had to make the choice for the future, I would be involved 100% with the prototype with Audi,” he said. “We already won everything in Japan. It was perfect for my career; I had a really good time. But if I can come back to Europe, I'm still French and European.
“Now with the new world championship, if I can be involved for the future for the full championship, it would be great to race for Audi for that. If I had to make a choice for my future, it would be Audi.”
John Dagys is SPEED.com’s Sportscar Racing Reporter, focusing on all major domestic and international championships. You can follow him on Twitter @johndagys or email him at
Monterey
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