24H Le Mans: In conversation with Timo Bernhard
In conversation with Timo Bernhard: Driving the No.91 Porsche AG Team Manthey Porsche 911 RSR, the German driver will be alongside fellow Porsche factory drivers Jörg Bergmeister (DEU)and Patrick Pilet (FRA).
You are here representing a Porsche factory team in the 50th year of the 911. How much would victory mean to Porsche at Le Mans this year?
For sure it would mean a lot because Le Mans and Porsche go together. Porsche is the most successful car manufacturer in Le Mans with 16 overall victories and a lot more GT class victories as well. I won here in 2002 at my first attempt at Le Mans in the GT class, and this year it feels to me like I’m going back to my roots in the GT class because it’s very high competition.
We have a brand new car so it would mean a lot in this very special year for Porsche but the competition is so high that no one can predict anything. There are other manufacturers who also have an anniversary so for sure everyone wants to go for victory! We know what we have to do and want to give my favourite car, the 911, a special present at this race.
Who do you think your biggest challengers will be?
I can’t pick out just one car but two Aston Martins are very strong, both AF Corse Ferraris and don’t forget the Corvettes who have been here for a long time and have very good drivers as well. Also, both of our cars have the chance to run for the podium.
One we get through the night we’ll have a clearer view who has a chance to win. I’m guessing that after dawn there will be three cars running nose-to-tail. I think it will be sprint racing all the way through and I’m really looking forward to that because I think that what has changed over past years in endurance racing is that you have to take care of your car but also go as quick as possible – something which didn’t happen in the past [when you just had to look after your car or save fuel].
We saw last week pictures of the new LMP1 Porsche which is fantastic. Can you tell us anything about the development or testing programme for the rest of 2013?
Now the rollout has happened, last Wednesday (see FIA WEC story here), we have officially started. It’s very important for the whole team that finally there is a car which is ready to go testing. I’m very happy because I was the first driver to drive it and it’s something special; I had a great feeling doing that. We have a lot of work to do but now we have a car we can start to develop and the driver input from Romain [Dumas] and me starts now and will be important. I think it will be a bright future and I’m really looking forward to it.
Fiona Miller
Photo: Timo Bernhard (left) and Patrick Pilet of Porsche AG Team Manthey