Allan, you’re now into your new role as a liaison between the team and the governing bodies at the first race I here in the WEC, how has that been working out for you so far?
Going back to when I said I was going to stop, it was quite clear that I wanted to stay with Audi and they wanted to stay with me because it worked really well and there were a few things that we discussed that I was interested in doing and they wanted my input and advice.
Some of it is relating to driver development and the link between the race and technical side of things, because sometimes there are some things that the drivers can push at and other people are better at it, just as a couple of examples. Here at the first race of the season, ultimately it has gone pretty well because they’re on the front row of the grid with Loic, Tom and Lucas, and normally the #2 car should be behind as there is nothing really between them.
I think for everybody, myself included, there is an understanding of what the new regulations bring when it comes to racing, so when you go back 12 months, the new regulations were a big different when it came to qualifying. It was a case of after a couple of races where you really got your feet under the table and understood them, so from my point of view. It’s listening, understand and having a bit of a chat and getting a feel, as it is about building up over a period of time.
But the drivers know that another driver, or ex-driver in this case, understands implicitly what they are going through and that it is very difficult for engineers and design engineers, because they’ve never been in this situation before. It is to push on in these areas and being very active in different areas with Audi as an ambassador for them over the past three or four months. It’s a new role in some ways but not in others.
You’re also doing a lot of work in the US in the Tudor United SportsCar Championship, having “handed over the keys” to Mr. Albuquerque. Especially with the task that Filipe has a new role going from DTM to the LMP program with Audi this season?
He is an example of just one part of it, especially as Filipe is extremely talented as a driver, but doesn’t have the relevant experience in LMPs, but has the DTM and GT experience to his credit. It is about how to transfer that information across and prepare in the best possible way for Le Mans in such a short time.
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