Interview: Lilou Wadoux, promising French pilot!
Currently 2nd in the Alpine Europa Cup, the young 20-year-old from Amiens gave an interview to MotorsInside, on the occasion of Alpine's presence at the 2021 24 Hours of Le Mans. In the running for the title, she reveals herself.
Have you always had motor racing in your blood?
To be honest, not at all! I started quite late, around 14 years old, by doing rental karting. In the end, I liked it and I switched to competition karting for a year. Then I started in car racing at the age of 16: two years in the 208, three TCR races, two 308 races, two other Clio Cup races… I am now in my second season with Alpine!
What differentiates these categories in your opinion?
With Alpine, I drive in rear-wheel drive and it’s very different from other series where I’ve been able to drive: the others were front-wheel drive cars, which makes the driving completely different. These are cars, all in all, with very reasonable costs and this quickly trains us for Endurance, or other categories.
There is a lot of talk about the place of women in motor racing: you are two women competing in the Alpine Cup. Is there a difference in treatment or feeling when you are a female driver?
No difference! As soon as we are in a car, regardless of whether it is a man or a woman, we are drivers and we are here to win. Both, with work and determination, are capable of the same things!
Due to your early career, what is your ultimate goal in motorsport?
I have no ultimate dream at the moment, except that I would like to make it my job. I think I have the opportunities today and that’s why I will have to work.
Perhaps a more trivial question: how would you define your driving style?
Excellent question! I am quite reserved and not really aggressive. All the more reason that I am playing in the championship this year. I am generally calm, but if I feel like I can do it, I don’t hesitate to attack!
There are three races left in the Alpine Europa Cup (at the time of writing): do you see the title as a realistic goal given your season – never outside the top 5?
At the beginning of the year, we were aiming for a top 5 finish at best. Then the race went excellently, and we realized we could compete for the championship. We plan to gain experience and score big points every weekend!
