What The World Champions Said....After the 24 Hours of Le Mans
After the 2019 24 Hours of Le Mans the new FIA World Endurance Drivers Champions in both LMP1 and GTE gave their reactions, along with the LMGTE 24 Hours of Le Mans winners and outgoing GTE World Champions
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Sébastien Buemi - 2018/19 FIA World Endurance Drivers Champion
No8 Toyota Gazoo Racing – Toyota TS05 Hybrid
“It was a difficult race for us because we knew that it was possible to lose the World Championship. When we started the race we wanted to stay on the pace of car #7 but after only five laps I realised this was nearly impossible. We got stronger during the race but admittedly car #7 was quicker in the end. I would have been satisfied to finish the race in second so what happened to car #7 is really painful. I am really sorry for them, they did an amazing job.”
Kazuki Nakajima - 2018/19 FIA World Endurance Drivers Champion
No8 Toyota Gazoo Racing – Toyota TS05 Hybrid
“This year the Le Mans win was decided by luck and not by performance. It was a tough race and what happened to car #7 is hard to believe. We experienced a similar situation in 2016 so we know how this feels and we feel for our team-mates. Thanks to our win we are also World Champions and we are very proud of this after a long and hard season, which included many close fights with our sister car.”
Fernando Alonso - 2018/19 FIA World Endurance Drivers Champion
No8 Toyota Gazoo Racing – Toyota TS05 Hybrid
“It is amazing to win Le Mans for the second time but the win came really unexpectedly. We did not have the pace to win this race against car #7 on track. Today luck was a big factor and this is part of motorsport. I feel for my team-mates who are actually more than team-mates, they are friends. They would have deserved the victory, but the race chose us to win it. Our main goal was to win the World Championship and we are very proud that we have achieved this.”
Michael Christensen – 2018/19 FIA World Endurance GT Drivers Champion
No92 Porsche GT Team - Porsche 911 RSR
“What a rollercoaster ride! We were on track for victory, everything was perfect, but then we had to pit during the night for repairs to the exhaust. You feel as if the world has fallen out from under your feet. Still, we won the world championship and that’s what counted for us; that was our aim. So we have very good reason to celebrate.”
Kévin Estre (Porsche 911 RSR #92 - 2018/19 FIA World Endurance GT Drivers Champion
No92 Porsche GT Team - Porsche 911 RSR
“The first half of the race was sensational. Our Porsche 911 RSR was incredibly fast, we were very clearly the favourites to win. After the setback during the night, all that mattered was to bring the car home and win the drivers’ title. That was strange. You hear every noise in the car, you sense every vibration, even though there might be none. So the relief and joy of winning the world championship are, of course, immense.
LMGTE 24 Hours of Le Mans Winners
James Calado
No51 AF Corse Ferrari 488 GTE EVO
“Firstly, congratulations to the #92 Porsche boys on winning the title which was a great achievement. Being part of Ferrari and to win, especially on the 70th anniversary [of the marque’s maiden Le Mans win] as the first one, is really something special. We’ve put a lot of work into this over the last six months. A lot of preparation went into this and it’s something we really wanted more than anything. It wasn’t an easy race at all, a lot of up and downs. There were a few issues. The sister car had an issue, so we had to deal with that and change a few things. It was tough and very demanding, but we did it.”
“I’m very happy for these guys. It was Daniel’s second win in three races. He’s a super teammate and they’re both very quick and we’ve got an amazing team around us.”
Alessandro Pier Guidi
No51 AF Corse Ferrari 488 GTE EVO
“It was a very good race. It was tough. There’s a lot of manufacturers and everyone can win. You have to push from beginning to end. And then being in a red suit on the podium and hearing the Italian anthem is really something special. Looking down and seeing so many people is really something you cannot forget.”
Daniel Serra
No51 AF Corse Ferrari 488 GTE EVO
“It’s unbelievable. I’m a lucky guy to be at the right place at the right time. It’s just my third time and I’ve won twice. It’s difficult to realise that. It’s very special to be in red, I have to say. It was an amazing race. I have to say they both drove fantastically well... I just drove! They did the job to be honest. It was awesome to watch two guys who wanted it so much. They were on a mission. It was really nice to watch and to help them.”