Hülkenberg talks about his mind-blowing performance at Le Mans

It was ultimately the third Porsche, usually absent from the endurance championship, that won these 83rd 24 Hours of Le Mans. Accompanied by Nick Tandy and Earl Bamber, Nico Hülkenberg and his Porsche No. 19 made the difference during the night. The German driver explained after the finish: « It’s a dream weekend. It’s the greatest performance of my career. We aimed for one car on the podium and we did a double. When night came, the car had an amazing performance. We didn’t make any mistakes. The work of a whole team, spanning many weeks, is rewarded. »

No active F1 driver had won the 24 Hours of Le Mans since 1991, with a victory by Johnny Herbert and Bertrand Gachot in a Mazda 787B. The Force India strongman was therefore able to compare the two disciplines: « It’s an incredible experience for me. Coming from the F1 world, seeing a race like that is simply mind-blowing. There are great things here, and some are great in F1 as well. Actually, I’m in an ideal position because I have the chance to know both. The atmosphere within Porsche was fantastic, the team spirit too. I really enjoyed driving with my teammates, and that’s what matters most. (…) It’s hard to realize. And next week, it’s back to Austria with the Grand Prix ».

Former Red Bull driver, Mark Webber, narrowly missed victory at Le Mans… just like last year. The unfortunate Australian, driving his Porsche No. 17, finished in second place and might have a few regrets after being penalized with a one-minute stop and go: « We weren’t fast enough to win. It’s as simple as that. The No. 19 Porsche was fantastic and stronger, especially during the night. But we are extremely proud of this one-two finish. Brendon [Hartley] and Timo [Bernhard] did a fantastic job. »