2024 LMP2 rookie Arthur Leclerc has played a key role in the road so far to keep Panis Racing well in the hunt to secure the ELMS Overall Championship and was under no illusions about how important pole position, grabbed in conclusive style by team-mate Charles Milesi, might be in Saturday’s season finale and title decider at Portimao:
“Of course it’s important to get pole, there are not many straights here, only one really, and the LMP2 car is quite wide, has good downforce and hard to pass, especially as the cars are so closely balanced.
“We are in a good position and I think the qualifying position will help a lot, but my approach will be no different to any other weekend: maximise the car, the set up and my driving to try to deliver the best job possible. I have two very strong team mates and between us there is good consistency, to keep that is very important.”
Media reports have suggested that an appearance in a Ferrari 499P at the Bahrain Rookie Test is about to be announced but the question was handled politely and professionally:
“I’ve no idea, but that would be great, wouldn’t it? Let’s see. I think I’m in quite a good position to test it, but I can’t confirm… not yet.”
Would a non-works seat in a prototype, for AF Corse, be a good introduction to the class?
“I would really love that, but let’s see. It’s open, it may be an option but I have no idea at the moment. I find the LMP2 class really good, super competitive, and I feel good driving the car but let’s see what next year brings. I would be happy to continue here, but a lot depends on other outside factors.”
With Ferrari F1 driver brother Charles visiting the 24 Hours of Le Mans this year, what are Arthur’s thoughts on sharing a car with him in the future?
“It would be amazing. It’s our dream to one day drive together and to do Le Mans. There are still some things that are maybe holding that up.
“It’s a topic that has come up before in that all drivers in endurance must share the same weight; I think it came up in an interview that Verstappen wants to do quite a lot more driving but this is something that has to be considered. So I hope that in time that is something we can sort out as at the moment it would be unbalancing the performance a bit.”
