Nelson Panciatici on winning the prix Jean Rondeau at the 24 Hours of Le Mans

At the '24 Heures du Mans', Nelson Panciatici finished tenth overall and won the Jean Rondeau prize for the best rookie. It was a very promising result for the young French driver, who turns 24 in September, and started in endurance racing at the 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps, the second round of the FIA World Endurance Championship. He will race the rest of the Championship in the Oreca 03 - Nissan No.26 of G-Drive Racing by Signatech-Nissan with his team-mates Roman Rusinov and Pierre Ragues.

Nelson, what's the first thing that comes to mind when talking about Le Mans?

“I immediately think of '24 Heures du Mans', and famous names such as Arnage, the Mulsanne straight, Tertre Rouge and others like Maison Blanche, to me Le Mans is above all a racing legend with strong images, especially at night where sensations are multiplied by ten. This race is one of the monuments of world motorsport that any driver would want to have his on his record regardless of the discipline in which he races. "

What image of the week will remain etched in your memory?

"It's hard to pick one because there have been many highlights, such as scrutineering where it was like in Cannes because there were so many people, the parade or the start. If I had to keep one image I would say the finish because it was an incredible feeling for all who were fortunate enough to cross the finish line, regardless of their classification: I had never experienced that before. In our team by G-Drive Racing Nissan Signatech, I saw tears from mechanics in the staff, we felt content after all the stress during the week. To see all those happy people, it was just happiness. A great moment! "

What is the main lesson of the week?

"I learned many things during this week, but I mostly understood what is meant by 'team spirit'. It made me think of the famous, “we win together or lose together” of Aimé Jacquet (former manager of the French national football team) when they won the 1998 FIFA World Cup. We had intense moments but also friendly times when we learned more about each other. This strong relationship with others will make us even better for the next races of the WEC. I would add one last thing: the Le Mans 24 Hours  also taught me patience! "

What does the Jean Rondeau prize mean to you? Did you expect it?

"It made me very happy especially as I hadn't expected it at all. Anyway, this is a great honour to receive the Jean Rondeau prize, I know his career. I know especially since he won the 24 Hours of Le Mans driving his own car, which is something unique in the history of this race and I think it will remain so for a long time! Drivers who have won the Prix Jean Rondeau include Benoit Treluyer and Frank Montagny. I hope this will bode well for the rest of my career! "

Tenth in the 24 Hours of Le Mans at your first attempt. How did it feel on Sunday at 15:00 ?

"At the time, a great feeling shared with the team and much happiness to see it all rewarded with a great tenth place overall. But the competitor in me quickly emerged and I have some regrets. I especially regret not being able to achieve a podium finish in LMP2. Without a puncture which damaged the undertray of the car, it was still possible 3 hours from the finish. It raises lots of questions, but that's what drives us and helps us continually improve. "

What attracts you the most and least in endurance racing?

"Driving real race cars: the wheel of our 03-Oreca Nissan gives good feedback. I enjoy driving it and that is important. In addition, it performs well so what else is there? I have participated to date in only two endurance races, the 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps and Le Mans 24 Hours, but I really enjoyed racing as a team and the sharing that implies. Endurance does not mean driving gently and we are often flat-out, but sometimes you have to know how to balance this, so it's not frustrating. On the negative side I would say it is the traffic you have to manage, that can disrupt a race. Coming from single seater racing, I'm not used to this kind of situation and it's true that it surprised me at first, but I am constantly progressing. I start to feel things better but sometimes it's frustrating, such as in qualifying, but that's part of endurance and I have to get used to it! "

Do you know the circuits of the next rounds of the World Championship?

"Apart from Silverstone, I do not know any of the circuits where we will race in the WEC, but there are driving lines to help us learn those we do not know, not to mention the PlayStation! In addition, I have a good relationship with my team-mates, Pierre Ragues and Roman Rusinov, and with my engineer Damien, we will share a lot, so we will go even faster, so this should not be a handicap. We will drive on prestigious circuits, this gives even more motivation and desire to help move quickly through steps needed to understand a new track. "

What do you expect of the 2012 season in the World Championship?

"G-Drive Racing by Signatech Nissan is a top team led by Philippe Sinault who has extensive racing experience and I have two team-mates, Pierre Ragues and Roman Rusinov, who are very efficient, it is not too much to hope to fight for victory: this is what we all want! I also want to continue learning and to garner as much experience as possible to be ready for next year, even though I know you learn every day. I am fortunate to be well supported by the team and I enjoy it! "

The next appointment for Nelson Panciatici in endurance racing is on August 26th for 6 Hours of Silverstone, the fourth round of the FIA World Endurance Championship.

Interview by Cécile Bonardel – (translated by Dave Davies)

Photo: Le Mans (Sarthe, FRANCE), Place De La Republique, LE MANS 24 HOURS, Monday, June 11, 2012, SCRUTINEERING. Nelson Panciatici received the award for best rookie in the 24 Hours of Le Mans 2012