How have your first steps with the team gone?

Romain Grosjean: Really well! I saw that a great deal of progress had been made on the project thanks in particular to the work done by Andrea Caldarelli. It was a real surprise. It’s a lovely team with experienced, conscientious people who know what they’re talking about. It makes for a great atmosphere.

What did it feel like the first time you took the wheel of the SC63?

RG: The SC63 is a Hypercar that drives like a single-seater. It was a nice surprise. Everything in the cockpit is designed well and I really felt great behind the wheel, although not being sat in the centre of the car was a challenge for me with my background in single-seaters.

Did the car perform straight away?

RG: Performance hasn't been the goal so far. During testing in Jerez, we focused on long runs to clock up as many miles as possible. We haven’t simulated a qualifying session with new tyres and little fuel in the tank. However, the car has bags of potential. It’s a reassuring feeling. I’m impressed by how far its development has progressed. We’ll do two more tests in the United States in December. I’m looking forward to getting back in the car and seeing what we can do in Daytona and Austin.

Is a Hypercar fun to drive?

RG: Yes, driving and developing the SC63 give me a lot of pleasure. I hugely enjoy ironing out all the details and adjusting the basic setup. I’m also impressed by the integration of the hybrid system and how easy it is to manage.

What frame of mind are you in ahead of a full endurance season in 2024?

RG: I’ll be competing in all the IMSA endurance races, and in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. I’m looking forward to getting the season up and running, and seeing what we’re capable of achieving. And I can’t wait to share this experience with other drivers. At Le Mans, I’ll be racing in front of a French crowd and have to admit that I’ve missed that closeness.

After many seasons in a single-seater, you’ll be sharing your car with two team-mates. Does that worry you?

RG: No. I think I’m at a point in my career where I don’t need to show any more what I’m capable of. What I find interesting about endurance is team spirit. You have to find the best compromise in this discipline for your team-mates. I’m rather accommodating on several things such as driving position. Everything was fine in Almería and Jerez.

What do you remember of your only 24 Hours of Le Mans to date?

RG: It brings back superb memories. Unfortunately, we had to retire with engine trouble but, despite that, I went down to the Dunlop Chicane to watch the other cars and continue enjoying the experience. I’ve been lucky enough to compete in legendary events such as the Monaco Grand Prix de Monaco and the Indianapolis 500 that are more than just a race. At Le Mans, it’s a week-long meet. You realise how passionate the fans are and how big a part it plays in their life.

What’s the most exciting aspect about returning to Le Mans?

RG: What I find most exciting is the opportunity to discover the circuit at the wheel of a Hypercar prototype. We’ll be trying to pull off a good result as an iconic race such as Le Mans does not go unnoticed in the track record of a driver or manufacturer. We’ll have to wait and see how the first races pan out for us in the WEC and IMSA. Our team is quite young and we’ll be up against seasoned campaigners. However, a new car can win on its Le Mans début. We saw it with Ferrari this year.