Patrick Pilet : "Lot fo fun behind the wheel"

Patrick Pilet has been present at the 24 Hours of Le Mans without interruption since 2009. He has just competed in the French classic for the third consecutive time in the LMP2 class for IDEC Sport and for the third time, the native of Auch has seen the chequered flag. The French team led by Patrice Lafargue did not finish on the podium in the LMP2 category, which is still very competitive, but it did reach the finish for the fifth time in six participations. 

For the 40-year-old driver, who was one of the fastest driver in this 2022 edition of the LMP2 class, the plan was to show that he had lost none of his speed. He succeeded in doing so with some very good times worthy of a young driver.

Even if the eighth place in the final race doesn't reflect the potential of the team he was driving with Paul-Loup Chatin and Paul Lafargue, Patrick Pilet has something positive to retain from this 90th edition. 

The first part of the race caused a lot of problems for the #48 with a lot of time lost. "We lost a wheel in the third stint because of a faulty wheel nut," Patrick Pilet told Endurance-Info. "The wheel was perfectly mounted because the problem did not occur at the beginning of the stint. We lost three laps and we finished three laps down. On a personal level, I am satisfied with my performance and with all the work done by the IDEC Sport team. I had a lot of fun at the wheel, even if there is a bit of frustration with this wheel nut. The LMP2 class remains incredibly competitive.

"The level of the leading teams means that you have to have no problems whatsoever. To finish in the top five, every tenth counts. With the exception of the wheel nut problem, our race was solid with the only minor problem being a front cover change. We showed that we could make the car work."

Like many, Patrick Pilet is aiming for a Hypercar seat next season at the wheel of an LMDh: "My objective clearly remains the LMDh, that's what I'm working on 100%. I have proved that I belong there."