02.06.2023 - 19h00

LM24: What some of the WEC drivers said at today’s Le Pesage

Today marked the start of a week-long build up to this year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans, round four of FIA WEC, with the traditional ‘Le Pesage’ or ‘the weighing’.

Among the various checkpoints of the scrutineers, the weight of the cars is scrutinized and must comply with the regulations. A Hypercar must weigh a minimum of 1,030 kg, compared to 930 kg for an LMP2 and 1,245 kg for an LMGTE Am.

During these two days, the scrutineers will do more than weigh the 62 cars of this Centenary edition. Long-term, meticulous and rigorous work awaits them. For them, it is a question of checking the conformity of the cars with the specific regulations of the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

FIAWEC.com was onsite to speak to some of the teams and drivers at day one of the Pesage, and below is what some of the WEC competitors had to say going into the biggest race of the season.

Robert Kubica, Team WRT : “Le Mans is a very big challenge… anything can happen. First time I was racing here in Le Mans was two years ago and Le Mans offered us all kinds of emotions we could have during the race. But Le Mans is not only about 24 hours. Of course, this is the most important part of the weekend, but we are here for 10 days, a lot of preparation, a lot of work required, a lot of attention on all the small details to make everything work as best as you can . So, it's a big challenge, it's a unique challenge.”

Loic Duval, Peugeot TotalEnergies : “First of all, I think everybody is happy to be here, to be able to be part of it. You know, it's, of course, it's something special, the 100th anniversary. It's special too, because it's a golden era in Hypercar, having the opportunity to be an actor of the race is something really special. So yeah, we've been looking forward to be here. Now it's great to have the opportunity to be back at Le Mans. Such a big event, you know, bigger French race with a French manufacturer as a French driver. It's also really special for me, so yeah, I mean, we are looking forward to it. It's a big challenge. And, of course, it's a sprint of 24 hours. But I think everybody's ready for it.”

Albert Costa, Inter Europol Competition: “When I was young, as every race car driver, I was dreaming to be in Formula One or Le Mans always, because it was the race to watch on TV when I was young. Then I grew up a little bit. I was thinking 'one day I have to be at that race, one day I have to win this race'. I think two or three years ago, I got the news that maybe GT3 was the possibility to change the rules and maybe to join GT3 in Le Mans, I have to be there. However, everything has changed earlier this year when I got the call and when I got the opportunity to drive in LMP2 in WEC but that means I drive an LMP2 at Le Mans and they said 'yes, you're going to race in Le Mans '. I was crying and I was really emotional. It was a big emotion for me to have heard this from Sasha (Fassbender), the Team Manager. Then I called my family and said I' m going to make one of my dreams come true. So now I'm here today, I woke up super early because I really wanted to go to the racetrack to feel the atmosphere, to see everything and it's amazing.”

Nicky Catsburg, Corvette Racing: “It is an even more special event this year. It's the 100th anniversary, so super nice. I expect a lot of public here; I think it's sold out. It's going to be even more special than normal, and I cannot wait to get started.”

Yifei Ye, Hertz JOTA: “I'm just very excited to be racing at the 100 years of Le Mans. Le Mans has always been a place for my memory because I lived here in the past. I did the French Formula 4, I did my single seater career; I did school here. Also on my first event in Le Mans I was having that special moment on the last lap of the race in 2021. So always magical place here in Le Mans and this year together with my two brilliant teammates and the reigning world championship winner LMP2 JOTA, I think we have a very good chance fighting for the top.”