24h Le Mans 2016
Lucas di Grassi

As Brazilian, you are the only Audi driver from an American country. The FIA WEC makes its debut shortly in Mexico, where you have already raced in another series this year. What are you expecting from next weekend?

We were in Mexico with the FIA Formula E in March. The event was just amazing. There were an enormous amount of spectators, but I think that even more spectators will be there for the FIA WEC. However, it’s not just about the sheer numbers. The fans are extremely enthusiastic. The Mexicans love motorsport and are looking forward to the WEC, in which a Mexican team also competes. The spectators bring a huge amount of energy with them to this race. I’m sure that we’ll have an unforgettable weekend together with them. And we also want to reward them with a great race.

What’s special about the track?

The sector through the stadium is unique. It’s unbelievable for us drivers to race through such a fabulously built spectator backdrop. I expect there to be many exciting maneuvers in the race, which will impress the fans. With the exception of one corner and the pit lane, the circuit is however completely different to the Formula E track we used six months ago. We use the entire facility and race on the 4.3 kilometer long version. At one point we reach around 300 km/h.

What will be the biggest challenge in Mexico?

The track is at an altitude of almost 2,300 meters. This alone makes it a challenge for our technicians because the air is much thinner. The aerodynamics, engine power and the cooling system are affected the most. It will also be physically more demanding for us drivers. Even so, I’m really looking forward to our debut in Mexico.