Paul di Resta (Peugeot) : "I’m sure we will succeed collectively"

Can you talk us through your season with Team Peugeot Sport ?

It’s been a tough season. I think it’s been a huge ask for everyone, the first full season in FIA WEC with high expectations. We have to give credit to the other manufacturers, how they approached this season and prepared for it and how competitive they’ve been. We were at the back since the start, and I think at this moment we understand the task that was ahead of us. It does not change how the journey was, we put as much effort in as we could, and during those moments, what I saw in the team was huge emotion, a lot of hard work, a crazy amount of work, especially when you think about what we had to do after the first race in Sebring.

And when you put an element of success in the equation, like we had in Monza with the podium or when we finished Le Mans, it shows the human nature of people, the emotions were huge during those moments. It gave us a taste of how it could be with a bit more success. As a team we want to do better and I’m sure we will succeed collectively.

What was your top moment of the season?

Monza could be the obvious answer, standing on the podium, but honestly, driving the car at the 24 Hours of Le Mans was a good surprise giving the difficulties we had at the previous races. After a few races, I felt that it was going to be more of a struggle but when we started to get the car to grips it was really enjoyable to drive. The biggest moment this season was when we got to the point when we were almost racing in the game competitively and I felt like we made a huge step.

How will you spend your winter now that the WEC season is over?

2024 has already begun, I’m already focusing on next year, since Bahrain actually! I’m not going to have a real winter break, I think it’s more important that we get fully into this, and my goal is to arrive next year better prepared, in better conditions, I think it’s everyone’s approach. Of course, I will have some family time over Christmas but other than that I’m fully committed to prepare next season.

What are your expectations for 2024?

I think for sure we want to be more competitive, that’s the biggest thing. Being competitive will make it far more enjoyable over the year. It’s also very hard to predict with the new manufacturers that are going to be there.

As long as we take steps forward it will be positive. Rome was not built in a day and I think we have to understand that we are going to need a little bit more time to catch up. I have the belief that the team will keep working hard, and that everybody is willing to join that journey together even if it will ask a huge effort from everyone.