René Rosin (Prema Racing): "It's not because we won the first race that the rest will be easy."

After a good start in endurance racing, marked by a fourth place at Sebring (WEC), you won the opening round of the ELMS. How does that make you feel?

For us, it's still only the beginning of a completely new adventure. Sebring happened very quickly, especially as the equipment had to be sent there very early. So our preparation was not optimal. Here in Paul Ricard, we had more time. We used what we learned in Florida and we worked well during the pre-season tests (the Monday and Tuesday before the race). We concentrated on the race and we reaped the rewards.

And this even if the withdrawal of Juan Manuel Correa didn't make your task any easier...

Yes, Juan Manuel suffered from a foot problem and we had to replace him. It happened at the last minute and we decided to bring in Lorenzo (Colombo), who is with us in the WEC. It was easier to work with someone we know, there were already enough unknowns.

Your car spent only 5'54 in the pit lane, which is less than the two others that accompanied you on the podium. So the difference was not only on the track...

It's true that all the mechanics were perfect during our refuelling, even though it was the first time that we had to deal with the ELMS rule, and therefore one man less than in WEC. But all of them worked very hard during the winter, as soon as we received our first Oreca 07 in November.

How different is the team and race management from what you know in single-seaters?

The races are longer and there are more decisions to be made about strategy. But from a technical and organisational point of view, good preparation in single-seaters can only help. But if this victory is ours, and it won't be taken away from us, it's not because we won the first race that the rest will be easy. The team has done a great job, but we still have to work hard because the field is very strong. We need to keep pushing and gaining experience, which is why we have decided to compete in ELMS and WEC at the same time, to learn as quickly as possible.

In LMP2, everyone has the same car, the Oreca 07, just like in single-seaters. So the difference is also in the fine tuning, right?

In F2, F3, F4 or even FRECA, it is true that the difference is made on small details. But there is another area that is very important for me: the cohesion between the drivers. In single-seater racing, whereas it is every man for himself, I try to make sure that my drivers work together and push in the same direction. I believe that this is fundamental. In endurance racing it is even more important because they share the same car, but it is part of our philosophy.

As a reference team in single-seaters, you are used to playing up front. What did you have in mind when you arrived in LMP2?

Our idea, our project, is to prepare an endurance team capable of convincing a manufacturer to rely on us for its hypercar programme. We are having discussions, but for the moment we are concentrating on building this team as quickly as possible, in order to be as successful as possible.

Is Le Mans a race that has always made you dream?

No, it's quite recent for me. But I really enjoy it, especially at night. I attended the race for the first time three years ago, invited by a friend. And last year I experienced it as part of Iron Lynx (Prema's partner). And this year I will be there as a competitor. It is the first time that I will miss a Formula 2 race of my team, in this case Baku, in order to be in Le Mans. This is Prema's first Le Mans and I want the team to be at 100%. And I know that in Azerbaijan I can rely on my technical director in charge of the car and on a very professional group. Because if Le Mans is important for us, we will never abandon the single-seater, that's what we have to live for.