Tell us about your first 24 Hours of Le Mans as a driver.”It was in 2001 with the Dalara Chrysler LMP and its Mopar engine, a car fielded by Team Oreca. I shared driving duties with Franck Montagny and Yannick Dalmas. Hughes de Chaunac called me up for the race and it was a huge thing for me – in an LM P1 car too! It rained a lot that year, we were third in the middle of the night but then the engine failed us. It was still a fantastic experience. I remember realising just how big the event was. I said to myself “this is one crazy race, it’s incredible!”. Just the track, for a start. You have to respect the circuit. Whenever you make a mistake, the consequences are felt right away. I know all about that after brushing another car last night!  [Stéphane Sarrazin left the track and hit the rail with the #6 Toyota TS 050 Hybrid between Indianapolis and Arnage during the Wednesday free practice session.] Things happen very quickly, you feel safe but anything can happen, at any time. There is the forest, the section between Mulsanne and Indianapolis, the straight. Then there is the road section of the circuit… I have some great memories of my outings at Le Mans, but it’s one heck of a race!”

And what about your first 24 Hours as a spectator? “I came to Le Mans as a spectator when I was an Elf driver in Formula Renault. It was my first season and as I was an ACO driver, I was invited by the Race Director. I slept on the floor in the race control room. It was amazing – I was really young at the time, just 18. I drove up to Le Mans in a Renault Clio!”

What is your best memory of the race? “I would say 2007 when we finished second with Peugeot and then 2013 when I finished second again, with Toyota that time. Both memories are very special because the podium was unexpected. There were also the pole positions [he took pole three times: in 2007, 2008 and 2009, with the Peugeot 908 each time]. The most positive thing for me each time is the human aspect. Le Mans takes a whole year of preparation, we love the race but we can hate it at times too – it can be a very cruel affair.”

And the worst? “When you set off for 24 hours, when you’ve spent a year preparing for the race, when you have a car capable of winning and you are forced to abandon, it’s very tough. Personally, I’ve missed out on four potential victories, three times with Peugeot and once with Toyota. They are obviously not very good memories, but I’ve always managed to turn the page.”

Which teammate has made the biggest impression on you? “I’ve been fortunate enough to work with some excellent drivers, such as Nicolas Minassian, Pedro Lamy and Franck Montagny. All three have been influential on my 24 Hours of Le Mans experience.”

Tell us about the colours and design of your helmet. “I’ve always had a world map on my helmet because I race all over the world. As for colours, I like blue but for this year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans, I’ve changed it – I’ve gone for the red, black and white of Toyota and the number 6.”