Given their job, it’s hard to ruffle these guys’ feathers, yet this morning the pilots were full of humility and willingness to learn. And a little bit apprehensive too.

Braking techniques, racing line, grip etc. are all new notions to come to terms with in a short time, even though race preparation procedures are quite similar to a flight brief. “There’s a lot to take in to be able to have the right instincts once you’re out on track. The techniques are very precise, so I’ll be taking things step-by-step.” says Cédric, officer.

In the paddock, as they get ready to climb into the prototypes, the pilots notice that the six-point harness is very similar to the one they wear for flying. Instinctively they rapidly strap themselves in with the expertise that comes with their job.There is a big difference though: “In a plane, we have two more straps around our legs to keep us attached to the parachute if we get ejected.”

The first few laps go well, the trainee racing drivers gradually gain confidence and increase speed. Racing driver and instructor Vincent Capillaire is impressed with Captain Matthieu: “You place your gaze in the right place and you’ve already grasped the basic rules of racing. Now you just need to hold back your braking and turn in later.”

The fighter pilots are soon testing the limits of the prototypes. “I got a surprise coming out of a corner. The back end drifted but I countered it. The controls are stiff and direct. It’s very different to a Mirage or a Rafale where all the controls are very smooth, but it’s quite similar to an Alpha Jet” says Captain Matthieu.

After the two morning track sessions, it's time to change drivers and practice the pit stops for the afternoon competition. The changeover is easy for the pilots, who are already very efficient at strapping a harness and are of a similar corpulence to a racing driver.

Judging by the smiles, the air force pilots are very pleased with their morning’s work. Once they had gained confidence they perfected their racing lines and decided on a strategy for the afternoon race with their partners.

Follow their progress on social media as the day goes on.

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