Winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2018 and 2019 with Toyota Gazoo Racing, Sébastien Buemi is fully committed to these 24 Hours of Virtual Le Mans with seriousness and professionalism: “At the end it’s a race like any other. When I start an event, it’s not to finish at the bottom of the ranking. I try to do the best I can however I am realistic, Simracing is extremely complicated. We did a test race, it was complex. The goal will be to have no connection problems and to bring the car back to the pits at the end of each of my stints. It is true that it will not change my life if the race does not go very well. Nevertheless, I try to do well. “
At Toyota Gazoo Racing, we observe the presence of a Simracer per crew when other teams have chosen to enter two as the regulations allow. On # 7, Le Mans Maxime Brient will team up with Mike Conway, Kamui Kobayashi and José María López. Dutchman Yuri Kasdorp will support Sébastien Buemi, Brendon Hartley and Kenta Yamashita on # 8. “The Simracers help us a lot. They teach us things. I never imagined performing laps so that they would explain to us how to optimize our trajectories for the game. José María López knows them well because he has been involved in Simracing for several years. I think he advised the team on their recruitment. We professional pilots still have a lot to learn. There is no miracle, to be efficient, you have to spend many hours there “, says Sébastien Buemi. The Swiss driver also says more about driver changes: “We tried to train because it is very complex. You have to press a button to ask to be able to stop at the stand. Then, we must choose the pilot who replaces us. “
I am relentless and I try to progress
Norman Nato, pilot of the Veleca Esports 2 Oreca 07 LMP2 # 16, has teammates Stoffel Vandoorne, Eamonn Murphy and Tomek Poradzisz. “Stoffel lives near my house so instead of buying equipment, it’s easier to go to his place. He has a lot of equipment and a lot of experience in Simracing. It’s more fun to participate in the race for two. Technology and procedures are not my thing too much so in case of worries, he will be by my side to help me “, explains the French driver who has two participations in the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
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For these 24 Hours of Virtual Le Mans, the former Formula 1 driver, Olivier Panis (four participations in the 24 Hours of Le Mans), took part in the race with his son Aurélien and the Simracers Adam Pinczes and Nuno Pinto. Panis Racing Triple A enters a second car in the LMP category. # 31 will be driven by Tristan Vautier, Nicolas Jamin (Duqueine Engineering driver last year at the 24 Hours of Le Mans), Hany Alsabti and Thibault Cazaubon. “I am relentless and I am trying to progress. The idea of organizing these 24 Hours of Virtual Le Mans is magnificent. It’s going to be a great event. However, Simracing is a different world from ours. For me the key to the race will not be to go as fast as possible but rather not to make a mistake. As a team leader it’s all a bonus, tires, cars and damage cost nothing. I also think that this race is going to be a big boost for the Simracers because for many of them, it becomes a profession “, says Olivier Panis.
Today, the 24 Hours of Le Mans Virtual teams are participating in free practice from 10 am to 10 pm. Remember that the Virtual 24 Hours of Le Mans will take place on June 13 and 14, 2020, on the initial date of the Le Mans 24 Hours, which was rescheduled on September 19 and 20, 2020 due to the current international health crisis.
Find the entry list for the 24 Hours of Virtual Le Mans.
Read also: 24 Hours of Virtual Le Mans – The simulators of fellow pilots.
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