Q: How is the new 2016 Audi R18?

“We really hope it is as fast as it looks. It is difficult to say as we have never tested with the competition so this will be the first opportunity for us.  The car looks really promising for us, there is a lot of new innovations for us, especially the hybrid system.  The whole car is brand new, there is nothing carried over from the old car. The hybrid system is six megajoule and is really good.  We’ve also found some more engine performance and the whole package is looking really good.  But now it needs to prove that on the race track.”

Q: What are your thoughts on the new race on the calendar in Mexico City?

“I have some nice memories from the A1GP in Mexico. It is a really nice race track, actually I’ve never done the new stadium section but I remember it was really great to drive there. Looking at the Formula E race there a few weeks ago there are a lot of spectators so I hope we will get a lot of people there to support us when we race there in September. I’m really looking forward to that one.”

 Q: You’ve won Le Mans three times and there are plenty of drivers on the 2016 grid who want to win that race.  Do you think the decision by Audi to run two cars this year will put more pressure on you?

“It’s more for Audi because if you have three weapons there are more chances of winning.  For us it doesn’t change much because in 2011 we entered three cars but after 12 hours we were on our own  and we won the race.  I don’t think it puts more pressure on the drivers but maybe for the team.  We are always motivated to win Le Mans, it is a new edition of the race. You get addicted to the sweet victory and once you have tasted it you want to have it every year.  It’s the biggest one, it’s the race that everyone wants to win and we will try our best.”

Q: And the world title.  Is this something that you value the same as winning Le Mans?

“The world title is getting much more value now and we want to win the world championship again.  We were so close last year, it was a shame that we could not make it but it was great, hard racing out there; I like the high competition that we had in 2015, it was really nice racing so I hope we can do that again. The goal is to win both big ones, Le Mans and the World Endurance Championship.”

Q: How important is this two day test at Circuit Paul Ricard?

“It is good to see the other competitors on the track but we don’t know how much the others are going to show in the test.  The real truth will be seen at Silverstone or at least in Spa.”