Q: What’s the reaction been like at home to New Zealand’s first World Motorsports Champion for nearly 50 years?

“It was really nice going home and relax as world champion. The people that follow motorsport in New Zealand were delighted not only with my result, but for all the other Kiwis that do well in motorsport. It was a great feeling meeting up with the other drivers and discuss the year.  It was nice to go home and relax knowing I had a contract for 2016, I wasn’t on the phone every five minutes trying to organise a deal for this year.  I had a great time at home.”

Q: New car for the coming season.  What are the differences between this car and your championship winning Porsche?

“The car looks quite similar apart from the stickers.  We’re still running an aero kit that is familiar.  There are some updates but the biggest stuff is underneath the bodywork.  Drive train, updates on suspension and engine updates. We have more updates to come for the aero.”

Q: You won the championship but missed out on victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Is this the goal for 2016?

“This was the target for last year and the year before. We all want to stand on the top step of this podium.  Last year was a huge team effort and we all felt part of this victory from developing the car. Of course the target is the same and that is to win Le Mans.”

Q: Have you looked at the new Audi and new Toyota?

“To be honest I have just arrived and the cars look good.  I look forward to seeing them on track at Le Castellet.”

Q: How important is the two days of testing here at the Circuit Paul Ricard?

“We’re all interested to seeing how each of the cars go on track.  It is always hard to know how much everyone is showing.  Everyone is pretty committed in the development paths of their cars and no one is going to change direction this close to the start of the season. It will be interesting to see how everyone goes on track but it depends how much of their hand each team will show.”