Renger van der Zande explained the value of qualifying to survive the opening phase of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, taking place on 14-15 June.
“We’re trying to be safe in a way,” he told Motorsport Week on the ‘Wheels Up Flight Deck’.
“But at the same time, being safe also means you want to be in the front when you start this race.
“If you’re in the middle, that’s where the chaos happens, and also in the back.
“So in qualifying, it is important to have a good go at the beginning of the race. And that’s what we’re focused on in qualifying,” with the #22 Oreca 07 having reached Hyperpole.
“And at the same time, we’re setting up the car for the race. It’s going to be a long race.
“The starting position is not going to indicate who’s going to win, but it makes life easier, so that’s why we want to be in the front.”
Qualifying for the Le Mans 24 Hours draws less attention compared with the race itself, being the difference between one lap and over 300 twice-around-the-clock.
After competing in last year’s race in a Chip Ganassi Racing-run Cadillac V-Series.R Hypercar, van der Zande is enjoying returning to the competitive LMP2 field with the reigning LMP2 class-winners United Autosports, with his #22 Oreca 07 team-mates Pietro Fittipaldi and David Heinemeier-Hansson.
“LMP2 is good fun,” he added, “It’s a very light car and a bit underpowered, but it’s playful – almost like a go-kart.
“You can brake late, and there’s good downforce in fast corners. Because it’s light, you carry a lot of speed.
“It’s one of those categories drivers enjoy coming back to from Hypercar, and that’s what I’m doing.”
READ MORE – Felipe Drugovich embraces Le Mans effort with Cadillac
