The Build-Up
“After a few years of doing the big race now, I’ve learned it’s really important to pace yourself - not just for the weekend but in the week building up to it.
That means everything: from how you get to the circuit to how much sleep you bank before things start to really kick off and everything in between. The less you do, the more capacity you seem to have for the race and the more sleep you get in the bank, the more energetic you feel for the whole week.
On Sunday, one week prior to the race, we have the scrutineering session which is an event in itself with lots of fans present, which is great. In the days that follow, we have interviews, photos, drivers’ parade and lots of autograph signing! It’s like being at a party, constantly talking and smiling.
A bombardment of emotion a week before the race - and that makes you feel drained already.
During the entire build-up, there’s a lot of organising as well so the Team Manager and Press Manager have a big job to do. It’s a challenge for them to herd us drivers around but we also feel stress in those situations to make sure we’re in the right place at the right time.
We have a handbook of timings for each event which is invaluable. We make sure together, as a group of drivers, that we don’t just go disappearing off and getting waylaid with something that wasn’t in the schedule. On top of the press and fan commitments, we have to incorporate all our team preparation, working with the engineers to prepare for the big event. It’s pretty taxing but it is all part of the Le Mans experience.
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