Josh Pierson the rising star

Josh Pierson will be forgiven for being a little late in the morning to make himself available to the press on Thursday at Le Mans. The traffic management was not necessarily at his best for the young American but better now than on Saturday once the race has started.

Especially as the Portland native is attracting attention in the paddock of the 2022 Le Mans 24 Hours. At just over 16 years and three months old, Josh Pierson will become the youngest driver ever to start the classic race on Saturday.

A status that doesn't seem to disturb him too much. " I'm used to dealing with pressure, admits Pierson. So I don't feel any extra pressure. For me it's just like a normal race weekend.

Being the youngest driver to start here is a good thing for me, and also for endurance racing. The category had some difficult moments in the past, but it's clearly has a strong momentum again, with a lot of young people coming into the sport. I hope to be an example. Le Mans is an event I've always dreamed of competing in and it has an impressive history. The feeling of being from here is incredible. To be here at my young age and to have the opportunity to race these 24 Hours is great.

I had several options last year: the Road to IndyCar pyramid and endurance racing. After my two years in USF2000, I had the possibility of a WEC contract. For me, there was a choice to be made : should I stay in single-seaters or not? But in the end, it was a no-brainer. I had to go to the WEC. I can learn a lot more here. I had an offer from a top team with a great car and great teammates."

Participating ... and winning ?

For his first race in Le Mans, Josh Pierson will compete in one of the two Oreca 07 - United Autosports cars with Alex Lynn and Oliver Jarvis.

A team that can aim for a strong result after a great start of the season marked by a success at Sebring after a double victorious outing in the Asian Le Mans Series in Abu Dhabi for Pierson in the last two races of the season.

" We have a real chance if we can manage the strategy and put it all together, said the American. It can also create pressure, but I'm not worried about that. I have a job to do and that's what I'm focusing on.

Josh Pierson can also benefit from the immense experience offered by the United Autosports environment, both on the driver and management side, with former winner Richard Dean, (GT2 in 2006) ... the year Josh Pierson was born.

" I'm learning a lot with Alex and Oliver, and the aim this year is to take advantage of the endurance format to learn from other drivers. I'm learning 10 or 20 times faster than if I'd stayed in single-seaters. Every time we go out on track, we analyse the data and discuss what can be improved and that's good for me. We also did the track reconnaissance, and they know the tricks of the track with their experience of the event, and tell me where you can place the car and where you can't.

For his part, Richard has given me a lot, especially about the opportunities for my career. I've been given my chance, and the team has a lot of connections. I'm in the right place. Richard often tells me stories about his time here. He is a bit like my father. He can help me but on certain things he knows how to stand back when it is necessary. There is no other team I would rather be in. "

For the team's founder, seeing Josh Pierson perform at such a high level is not surprising." It's been a lot easier than I expected, admits Richard Dean. I've known him for two years. His coach is a good friend of mine who has driven for me in Formula Renault. I trust him so when he told me about Josh I believed him. And when he tested our car, he was up to the job. At his age, he might be like 'shocked' by what's happening, but he's not. He does everything we ask, adapts and has integrated perfectly into the team. He works well with his engineers and teammates.

" He's learning really well, says Alex Lynn. We're trying to make sure he avoids the mistakes we all made earlier in our careers." "One of his strengths is that he doesn't necessarily realise how incredible what he is doing is. He shrugs off the pressure impressively," said Oliver Jarvis.

Josh Pierson qualified in Hyperpole with the #23 Oreca 07, which many people consider to be one of the cars to watch out for, and he now has to complete this week in Le Mans without trouble in order to validate a new stage in his meteoric career. And, let's be sure, he won't be late on Saturday.