Le Mans | Calado: “Do we repeat ourselves? I prefer the World Championship with the 499P”

We are sitting in the trophy room located inside the Ferrari Endurance e Corse Clienti headquarters in Maranello, right in front of the gigantic Cup awarded to the winner of the 24h of Le Mans 2023, the Centenary edition.

Behind our seats – rigorously in red leather – other trophies won all over the world are on display when we sit down to chat with James Calado in view of the return to the Circuit de la Sarthe.

“Hey hi, how are you? Today I’m in a better mood than the last time we saw each other!”, the Briton greets us with a smile, referring to the post-race Spa-Francorchamps, when we interviewed him and found him with a face – rightly so – very tight after a 6 hour run that went wrong for Ferrari for the well-known reasons already fully explained.

Now the teammate of Alessandro Pier Guidi and Antonio Giovinazzi has found serenity and, above all, concentration, having to defend the historic triumph achieved 365 days ago with the 499P #51; we can only point him to the immense Centenary Cup to open the interview granted exclusively to Motorsport.com.

James, Le Mans one year after bringing home this great trophy, do you understand now what you managed to do?
“Ah, this little one… yes! (he says turning to look at him and laughing, ed.) It’s incredible to think that a year has already passed, time has flown by and so many things have happened in the meantime. It was certainly a great victory for us and for the team, but now we have to forget it and think that we are approaching the 2024 edition, so our goal is to try to repeat the same result. Let’s see what we can do, this year the performances have been strong, especially in the last two races, which is positive from a Le Mans perspective.”

You went very fast at Imola and Spa, do you feel extra pressure?
“Actually, no, I’m a driver used to thinking race by race and we know that Le Mans is one of these, albeit with extra value. As far as I’m concerned, I respect it and approach it like all the others, even if there is a I don’t particularly feel a bit of extra pressure. I simply try to do a good job and get the best I can, so we’ll try to bring home another victory.”

After Le Mans 2023 there were no victories for you, are you disappointed?
“It’s true, unfortunately the season didn’t continue well and we actually lost a lot of points. But if we look at the performances and the circumstances we have always been very strong. As far as I’m concerned, we should have won at Spa because we were the best car , but things went differently, while Imola was one of those races that didn’t go according to plan in terms of performance and pace. We felt really strong and that we had lost two races, but not entirely through our fault With different results we could have been much higher in the championship standings, but that’s how it is now and we have to look forward with confidence because the potential is there and we have demonstrated it, even if we haven’t always been ahead note ahead of Le Mans”.

#51 Ferrari AF Corse Ferrari 499P: Alessandro Pier Guidi, James Calado, Antonio Giovinazzi

Photo by: JEP / Motorsport Images

The 499P is now competitive on all tracks, compared to last year…
“It’s true, I honestly expected different performances at Spa because it is a high-speed track, but we had softer tires compared to last year. Instead we showed that we have really improved a lot, especially in the second stint and in tire management. The whole car has grown, as have we drivers, we now know how to manage the tires and everything else in the best possible way. On paper, we have one of the strongest cars.”

This year there will be no tire pre-heating systems, are you worried?
“The situation is the same for everyone, obviously it will be very difficult in the first laps and at night, as well as in the case of the Safety Car. In the end I think it is important to have some margin for action, Le Mans is not a race that requires laps always qualifying, but where you have to try to keep the car in good condition for the entire duration of the race. This is one of the keys we have learned through experience, such as staying out of trouble as much as possible, trying to avoid mistakes committed previously. Unfortunately we can’t do anything about it, we don’t make the rules, even if we don’t like them we just have to try to manage everything as best we can.”

Will management change also due to the shorter stints compared to last year?
“I honestly don’t know, but this too is the same situation for everyone and we have to think about our work. With more pit stops I think there will be a greater spectacle for the public, that’s all.”

This year, in addition to the LMGT3s with which you already had contact at the first race in Qatar, the LMP2s will return; How hard will it be to manage the traffic?
“It will be complicated because the LMGTEs were very fast, while the GT3s are significantly slower and we catch up to them much quicker than last year. We already had the LMP2s in 2023, but when you drive a Hypercar you are really very fast at Le Mans and it’s never easy to manage traffic. I think the practice sessions before the race will be very useful to learn how to move and navigate the other cars. I think we have to take unnecessary risks Safety Car we can be grouped in category again.”

#51 Ferrari AF Corse Ferrari 499P of Alessandro Pier Guidi, James Calado, Antonio Giovinazzi

Photo by: JEP / Motorsport Images

The Safety Car rule has also been changed slightly this year, what do you think?
“Honestly, I don’t care, a rule is a rule, then I can say that in my opinion the previous one was more correct, but I don’t feel like discussing it. I repeat, here too it’s the same thing for everyone and I don’t want to delve into it further. ‘subject”.

Le Mans lasts 10 days, including activities on and off the track: how do you manage everything mentally and physically leading up to the race?
“I think it’s important to try to rest as much as possible by sleeping well, eating the right way and keeping hydrated. Sometimes it’s also hot in Le Mans, which makes everything very difficult for us from a physical point of view in the car. After 10 years of I’m taking part, I already know what awaits me and I particularly enjoy the lead-up to the race, they are magical moments.”

Would you rather win Le Mans again with the 499P or the World Championship?
“Both! But if I had to choose one, I would say the title, not so much because we already won the 24h last year, but because I see it as a single race, while the championship is a set of events. And winning the overall title with Ferrari would be the dream come true.”

Do you think you can do it this year?
“If we look at the results of the first three races, honestly not. But in endurance never say never, the pace is there and I feel that we are the best team. Anything can happen, Le Mans is worth a double score and can change many things. Furthermore There’s also one more race on the calendar this year, so let’s keep our fingers crossed and see.”