Audi Sport Team Joest driver Loic Duval tells Sam Smith he has no apprehensions returning to the scene of his enormous accident at the Le Mans 24 Hours last year.
The 32-year-old, who will race the #8 Audi R18 e-tron quattro alongside Oliver Jarvis and Lucas Di Grassi, was ruled out of last year’s event on doctors’ advice following the airborne incident on the Wednesday before the race.
It was a tumultuous week for the Frenchman, as his wife gave birth to his second son on the Monday before the accident. Duval then ‘celebrated’ his 32nd birthday in hospital the day after his shunt.
“Well I don’t remember the day of the accident at all,” said Duval. “So I have no real souvenirs from that incident. I think this is positive for me as I have no expectations when I jump in the car at the test. I have nothing in my mind that is bad when I go back to Le Mans. I am well prepared but for sure the first time I go back to the corner where I crashed maybe I will have a little look but that is it. It is all behind me. It was so difficult to miss the race last season so I can’t wait to get back.
Duval also shared his opinions of the changes that have been made to the run-off area at the site of his accident, the final right hander of the Porsche Curves section of track.
“The run-off is different, there is some more space in case of something happening like I had. For the safety it is something good. Hopefully it will not hurt the good aspect and challenge of the track there, because we all love Le Mans because it has great challenges and punishes mistakes.”
Sam Smith
