[h=2]Tandy aims for Le Mans repeat in new role[/h] Wednesday, 14 June 2017


By Marshall Pruett / Images by Dole & JEP/LAT, Porsche Motorsport

2015 Le Mans winner Nick Tandy can't wait to go for his second consecutive overall victory at Le Mans with Porsche. The smiley Briton, a winner on his debut in the 919 Hybrid two years ago, went from the high of racing the world's fastest prototype to something less dynamic, a factory Porsche 911 RSR, at Le Mans in 2016 when the factory reduced its 919 effort from three cars to two.

Patience, and talent, have earned Tandy a return ticket to his beloved 919 Hybrid, and this time he's been promoted to a featured player in the top LMP1 Hybrid class. The change has been strange, however, as he's gone from a steady full-time gig in one of Porsche's IMSA GT Le Mans cars to lower-frequency usage in the FIA WEC.

Rolling with the reassignments and GT-to-P1-to-GT-to-P1 switches are all part of a professional racecar driver's life.

"I kind of got divorced from my old marriage with my GTLM team that Porsche sent off to America and got a new marriage back with the LMP1 team, and it feels like I've gone back and forth a bit in recent times," Tandy told RACER.
"But I don't mind; it's what I've asked for. You'd never turn that opportunity down. So of course, it's great to have the chance to go back for Le Mans and have a chance to win overall, and it's great to be part of the WEC and have the chance to win a world championship, of course."
Placed into the No. 1 Porsche 919 Hybrid alongside reigning Le Mans winner and WEC champion Neel Jani and new recruit Andre Lotterer from the defunct Audi LMP1 program, Tandy is in a prime position to maintain his perfect overall win record at Le Mans as the German brand chases its third straight victory at the 24 Hour.
"I feel like it's our defense of the crown, really," he said. "It was another challenge to go back last year as reigning champions and try and add two victories in two separate classes with LMP1 and GT. That was a different challenge and an interesting one. It didn't go that greatly.
"But I think this year and since I found out I'd been joining the team again kind of late last summer, I feel like we're going back this year – both me and [2015 winning co-driver] Earl Bamber. But it's a fact that we're undefeated in the top class in Le Mans. So, this is the challenge. Our challenge is to stay undefeated and keep that run going."

With Bamber in the sister No. 2 Porsche shared by Timo Bernhard and Brendan Hartley, a 919 Hybrid win in 2017 would mean the streak will end for Earl or Nick, and that's only if Toyota doesn't get to the finish line first with one of its three entries.
"Unfortunately, the pair of us are now split and when the race starts we'll be each other's biggest opposition," Tandy continued. "But it's great to go back and have the chance to win. This is what my life is all about. Going out and making sure you're in a decent car and you're in the right position to be able to go win these big races.
"And to be totally honest, each driver has a personal desire to win; I mean come on, it's Le Mans, but when you're there, with a manufacturer like Porsche, it isn't about the individual. It genuinely is about the team, the brand, and winning for Porsche. You hope you can be the one to do it for Porsche, though."
The speedy Toyota TS050 Hybrids should pose a significant problem for Tandy & Company this weekend. Blindingly fast in testing, the trio of Toyotas were untouchable, but according to team principal Andreas Seidl, the pair of 919 Hybrids were committed to running at race pace to perfect their 24-hour chassis and aero setups.
Tandy is confident the Porsches will be much closer than the 3.3 seconds that separated the TS050s and 919s once cars hit the track on Wednesday.
"The chances are that we're going to be significantly better than the three-second different that we saw at the test day," he said. "It's clear that Toyota have done a very good job. That's obvious. They were quick on the test day, but that's a test day. When you get into the race, things are often very different. We saw it last year where Toyota were behind at the test day, and then come race they were challenging at the front.
"So yes, we've got our work cut out to beat them. But we've known that pretty much since the prologue at Monza in March. How each car develops through the race, the Porsche and Toyota, is a different matter. Maybe their car, that's particularly quick in a straight line at the moment, might not be so good on its tires, for example. Single-lap pace is single-lap pace.

"It's great for qualifying but three hours on a set of tires at Le Mans is quite a different proposition. We're keeping our heads up and we know that we've got a lot of work to do and a big fight. But we will be full throttle, you could say."
Tandy raises a final note of interest about the LMP1 team he's representing at Le Mans. With their win in 2015, the Porsche program was barely halfway through its second season in the WEC – and attempting its second 24 hours of Le Mans. As a returnee in 2017, the same mechanics, engineers, designers and strategists are battle-tested, highly experienced, and hitting their stride.
Even if the Toyotas maintain a slight speed advantage, Tandy is confident the Porsche team will know how to respond in other areas that could result in a win.
"Porsche is a double world championship-winning team now, and a back-to-back Le Mans-winning team, so I think everybody is confident in the knowledge that we're as prepared as we possibly could be," he said.
"I think everybody knows how to go about winning, and what it takes now to win Le Mans. So, from that aspect, we haven't really got any worries. You just got to hope that luck is on your side, of course. Because you can't win without a great bit of luck, can you? That's the only thing a team can't buy and they can't prepare for."