Q & A with Thomas Laurent: Rookie Test driver with Toyota Gazoo Racing
We caught up with Thomas Laurent following the announcement of his test drive in the Toyota TS050 HYBRID next month.
What were your emotions when you were informed about the Rookie Test drive with Toyota?
TL: It was a really amazing moment and one that I really enjoyed...it’s a dream for me to drive an LM P1, and especially the Toyota. I was hoping, and pushing myself hard, to be considered as part of this rookie test with the LMP1 hybrids, and big thanks to the Jackie Chan DC Racing team as they’ve done amazing job this year to put me at the forefront. The test in Bahrain is a great opportunity for me. I’m very proud and I would like to thank the ACO and Pierre Fillon, the WEC and Gérard Neveu, as well as Toyota and Pascal Vasselon for enabling me to fulfil this dream.
What training will you be doing to prepare for this?
TL: I will be going to see Toyota in Cologne, after our Shanghai race, and will spend one day there for simulator training, to prepare an insert for the seat, some physical preparation, and to meet everyone. There are obviously a lot of complicated systems to learn compared to what we have in our LMP2 cars, and I will receive a manual in a few days to start to learn how the TS050 HYBRID works and all its different modes. For sure Oliver [Jarvis] will be able to help thanks to his Audi experience, and I will be asking him a lot of questions in Shanghai!
What is the greatest lesson you have learned this year with Jackie Chan DC Racing?
That’s a good question, as I’ve learned so much. I think an important point has been to be really focussed during debriefs to analyse the car and give my opinions, and to develop my relationship with the engineers. Oli and Ho-Pin have helped me a lot in this regard…Ho-Pin speaks a little French and that was useful in the early days before my English improved.
Tell us what your ambitions are for 2018?
I would like to stay in endurance racing, for sure. It will depend on what happens with Jackie Chan DC Racing next year and we are waiting for them to announce their plans. I’ll be speaking to them in Shanghai and we will see soon.
