Le Mans | Nielsen: “Bis-Ferrari? Let’s hope this time it’s our turn!”

Getting the Hyperpole and winning the 24h of Le Mans on their debut is something that Ferrari certainly didn’t expect last year, even though Maranello was convinced of being competitive.

There are a couple of weeks left until the big event at the Circuit de la Sarthe and there is a good atmosphere at the Prancing Horse because the 499P has proven to be strong everywhere thanks to the growth and experience accumulated over the past season.

But representing the red of the Emilian manufacturer also entails responsibilities and challenges that the drivers themselves will have to know how to manage well, together with many other things that are encountered in a very long journey.

Nicklas Nielsen, driver of the 499P #50, explains it in this exclusive interview, who underlines to Motorsport.com how much he and his teammates Miguel Molina and Antonio Fuoco want to leave their mark in the 92nd edition of the French classic.

Nicklas, the 499P debuted more than a year ago and now you have more experience: are you ready?
“There is certainly more confidence in ourselves and in the car now than a year ago. We went to Le Mans with the intention of winning, but we certainly didn’t expect to do it with a car that has such complicated systems as the I’m for all Hypercars. I think the great work done by the engineers and mechanics last year in getting to Le Mans, putting the car on the track and bringing home the 24h was incredible.”

You are the reigning winning brand, do you feel the pressure now that the 499P has proven to be competitive everywhere?
“I think that certainly our companions in the #51 have more than us in the #50, then it’s clear that now we have everything to lose because we return to Le Mans and we have to demonstrate what we are capable of and the same things. Our job is to deal with pressure, clearly the 24h of Le Mans is a race that everyone wants to win and the same thing goes for me and also for my teammates Antonio and Miguel in the end we have pressure all year round. but our intention is to return to France and do a little better than last year.”

You are the Ferrari that has obtained the most poles and podiums, but the victory hasn’t arrived yet: it’s time to break the ice!
“It is true! (laughs, ed.) We’ve always done well in Qualifying, in fact all we need is a victory, so let’s keep our fingers crossed and hope it gets to Le Mans this year.”

#50 Ferrari AF Corse Ferrari 499P: Antonio Fuoco, Miguel Molina, Nicklas Nielsen

Photo by: Nikolaz Godet

One of the new features of this edition will be the absence of tire pre-heating systems. Does this worry you?
“We’ll see how it goes, I think that last year everyone was happy to have the ‘warmers’. Unfortunately it’s like this for everyone and we have to face it, then it’s clear that whoever sits in the car would like to have warm tires straight away. Without a doubt ‘else will be very difficult, especially at night.”

The stints are also shorter, do you think they could have an impact on the strategies?
“Everything has its weight and plays an important role, but everyone does their job and we have to think about getting the best with what we have at our disposal.”

The LMP2s are back, which together with the many LMGT3s represent further obstacles; What will traffic management be like?
“It will be quite difficult, already last year it wasn’t easy with the many LMGTEs and now with the LMGT3s we saw at Imola that it was tough. With the addition of the LMP2s it will certainly be even more so. It must also be said that at Le Mans we are used to having so many cars and that is the best track for large numbers. Luckily there are long straights, I think the last sector in particular could be complicated, and even the first in some places, but last year we went. good at overtaking and I don’t see why we should have problems now.”

#50 Ferrari AF Corse Ferrari 499P: Antonio Fuoco, Miguel Molina, Nicklas Nielsen

Photo by: JEP / Motorsport Images

Le Mans lasts 10 days, how do you manage the stress of the many activities on and off the track?
“It’s a good question, I ask myself every year too! As a driver it’s nice to receive so much attention and we’ve seen it with the growth of the WEC, but going to Le Mans is always different, first you have to prepare a series of things , then we go to the track, but there are also activities with the media, the guests, the parade and so on. It’s a long week, but I think Le Mans shows what kind of race it is precisely because of all these things, and not only that for the competitors present, but also for the many fans who come to support the drivers and teams, incredible numbers. We are certainly delighted to meet them, then as a Ferrari driver you feel the support that the Prancing Horse has much more easily, even if we are in France. and not in Italy. It’s something that makes us very proud.”

You have already raced the 24 hours at Daytona and Spa-Francorchamps, but why does Le Mans remain so unique?
“Le Mans is an iconic race, then I don’t want to say that I don’t like Spa because when I won it I started to cry with joy. It’s certainly very different, a track with a great history behind it and we saw it with the whole team last year when the #51 won. It’s something that pushes me to come back and try to win this year.”