“For me, it’s a race apart”: Sébastien Bourdais talks about his bond with Le Mans
The Cadillac driver will once again return to his home turf to contest the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The Frenchman is still chasing a first overall victory, but he seems resigned to the idea of getting it.
If there is one man who must know this track by heart, it’s him. A native of Le Mans, he has traveled this immense stretch of asphalt numerous times. Whether in his everyday car or in one of the racing cars entered in competition.
And yet. On the eve of his 18th participation in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Sébastien Bourdais is still waiting for his victory on home soil. One might count his success in 2016 with the Ford GT, but a class victory doesn’t have the same flavor as an overall win.
This year, aboard his Cadillac, the dean of the Hypercar field could leverage his experience. Combined with that of Jenson Button and Earl Bamber, it could work wonders. But for that to happen, the American car needs to gain performance. Because since the start of the season, except in Qatar, it hasn’t been glorious. We can credit the sixth place at Spa, but that event produced some surprising results due to race incidents, penalties, and completely offbeat strategies.
No question of stopping
« Everyone wants to win Le Mans, obviously. For me, it’s a special race, I was born here. But it’s been a while since I accepted that Le Mans chooses its winner. I might have it on my record one day… Or maybe not. You can want it even more, try even harder… It doesn’t change anything. Today, I’m mostly trying to enjoy the moment. The context is exceptional: I’m part of an official program, I’m coming back to Le Mans at 46, I’m still competitive, I’m fighting for the pole… it’s fantastic », the man from Le Mans expressed to our colleagues from Endurance 24.
Despite his desire to win and the brilliant qualifications of last season in Sarthe, the Tricolor admits feeling somewhat defeated. He admits to no longer truly thinking about the pursuit of the winner’s trophy. « I don’t take it personally. »
Despite being 46 years old, Sébastien Bourdais does not wish to hang up his helmet. He still feels competitive and wants to honor the trust that the American manufacturer has placed in him. Will we see him in future editions?
« In auto racing, you’re only as good as your last race. You can be praised one day and forgotten the next. That’s how it is. Mistakes are probably less tolerated in veterans than in young drivers, and that’s normal. But as long as I have the chance to experience opportunities like this, I’m certainly not going to complain. The goal is to have no regrets. Not to tell yourself that you forgot a detail, that you left a stone unturned. But for the rest… it’s still racing. And there are a lot of things you can’t control. That’s how it is. »
