10. Have you done a “school run” since your victory?
Many of the parents know that I race and they gave me big hugs – like they’d done after my Le Mans accident two years ago – but this time for very different reasons.
11. Where have you been over the past 24 days?
I went to Silverstone for the British Grand Prix for BBC 5live. Straight from there I met up with Tom and Loic at Ingolstadt in Germany, Audi’s main production plant, then to Neckarsulm the next day, Audi’s engine facility, in each case to ‘showcase’ our winning R18 e-tron quattro to the workforce and sign autographs. I was also at the German Grand Prix, went back to Audi Sport in Ingolstadt for a Le Mans debrief, was at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in England then returned to Ingolstadt and Neckarsulm for works council meetings, so it’s been busy, busy, busy.
12. Have you sat in the Le Mans winning R18 since your last stint at Le Mans on Sunday morning?
I drove it at Goodwood before it being “retired” into Audi’s Museum. I pushed the ‘old girl’ on a bit on the third and final day and gave the dashboard a farewell kiss.
13. What in terms of “office work” have you completed post-race?
Literally hundreds of text and emails never mind Twitter and Facebook messages so replying to each one kept me pretty busy. Also technical paperwork had to be done. As soon as one race finishes you’re already looking ahead to the next. Our reports, and all of the Audi drivers complete one, features all the good and bad elements about the entire week covering every area of Le Mans so improvements can be made for next year. These reports are as important when you win as when you lose.
14. Have you seen Loic Duval and Tom Kristensen, or your No1 engineer Kyle Wilson-Clarke, since the race?
Yes: Loic and Tom at the Ingolstadt and Neckarsulm events; Kyle at the Audi Sport workshop.
15. Will you wear the crash helmet, gloves, race suit, boots etc that you used at Le Man again?
I will keep one of the helmets I used as a souvenir.
16. When did you begin training again?
As is normal after Le Mans, I was mentally very tired and had little energy. It’s important you let your body recover before starting any exercises again so I had a few days off in that respect.
17. What do the next 24 days have in store for you?
Testing, attending the Hungarian Grand Prix as an FIA Steward, at an Audi Cup soccer match in Munich, at Castrol plus a P&H personal sponsor event in the UK, at Spa for the Belgian Grand Prix for BBC 5live, taking a short break with the ‘phone off, then off to Brazil for round 4 of the FIA World Endurance Championship.
18. Have you visited Scotland since the win?
No – it’s looking like September or October now.
19. What means more to you – a third LM24 race win or a 30pt lead in the WEC?
Winning Le Mans.
