Daniil Kvyat (Lamborghini / Prema) : "We met at the very right time"

Did you talk to the Iron Lynx / Prema / Lamborghini association even before you started this 2023 WEC season ?

Yes we did. We knew about it for a bit, but we wanted to announce it here (Portimao. Ndlr). 

Was becoming an official Hypercar driver the goal when you signed up for G-Drive a programme that didn't come to fruition?

I mean when you approach into LMP2, the next goal is to go to the top of that category, which is the Hypercar. That was be the goal since the beginning. Lamborghini was looking for a fast and experienced drivers for their project, so we kind met each other at the very right time. The timing was was perfect and it all worked out.

Were you already in contact with the Lamborghini when you signed your G-Drive deal last year ?

No because I think Lamborghini was still in the very early days of the program. I was in touch with other manufacturers definitely but no point going to detail now, it's passed.

What attracts you to Endurance racing?

Needless to say that it's one of the top categories in the world. Right now especially with so many car manufacturers coming. Seven, eight, nine something like that... So it becomes an extremely appealing Championship to be in. The most appealing championship after F1.

Did you enoy the beginning of your Endurance racing career ?

My first race in Sebring was very enjoyable. We were fighting for the win during all the race, then finished on the podium. The guy's been doing a great job, we have a very professional group of people here. I definitely enjoyed. It's been a while... I haven't been racing so much lately, so it was great to to get back in a kind of winning ways, to get back on the podium. It felt really cool.

Didn't having to share settings and make compromises bother you? 

That's just the way it is here. You share the car, but at the end of the day just get in the car and try to drive as fast as you can. This doesn't change much even if the fact that we are a team is different. I never experienced that, but it's cool. And we have a very good trio (with Doriane Pin and Mirko Bortolotti). We understand each other very well and it's been very fruitful so far.

Did you draw a line on the Formula 1 after 2020 ? Were you looking for other opportunities ?

Lets be honest : F1 is the Pinnacle of motorsport. I was an Alpine Reserve driver for a while and in touch maybe close to some other race seats. But it didn't work out in the end. Then I've been talking with a lot of people in many other championships. But you always need to see where is the best opportunity to be, where you're most desired and where it makes more sense. And the timing is very important. It looked very good, I've been through challenging times and also I have to be honest with myself, being not far from considering finishing my career... to then being here today, in this very cool cool place. So I'm very grateful to to Lamborghini to believing in me.

Did you you really think of retiring?

At one point, nothing was really coming along, so you have this kind of thoughts. But in the end of the day you give you a last try, a last chance and it's worked out.

How did you feel when you started competing again?

It was it was cool. But for me, it's just doing my job. But yeah, for sure, after the race, it felt like it was very big relief. The relief I haven't felt for a long time. I raced in Nascar and I did a very good race in Charlotte. It was a very cool feeling also, but it was just like P15, which is good for Nascar. But here we are fighting for the win, we are in the winning mix.

Did you already spend a lot of time in the simulator ?

Not much, but we will start soon.

In F1, development takes place upstream. Is developing a car something you enjoy?

To be involved since the beginning is very important because that's the car we're gonna be know driving next year. And to be able to put your own input in it, trying to adapt the car as best as possible for the drivers... I think it's very important to have a maximum input since the beginning.

Will you have opportunities to test the Lamborghini Huracan GT3 ?

I tested it in Sebring. I don't know, my program is flexible.

NIO asked you to do the Formula E rookie test. Is it a championship that you would be interested in?

Who knows ? Maybe. At the moment, it's a bit too early. But if there will be no clash, of course. I haven't been racing much lately so I'm hungry. I want to race as much as I can, I want to win as much as I can .