At round four of the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) you’ll be returning to the cockpit of the Audi R18 e-tron quattro.

How have you recovered from the accident in qualifying at Le Mans?

I’m doing really well. I’ve regularly had my progress checked at a hospital in Lausanne since June. In addition, your racing license is withdrawn following such a serious crash, but I’ve had it reinstated since then.

Have you subsequently returned to the cockpit of a race car?

No, the doctors, Audi and I agreed that I should take it easy. Therefore, my first race was the fourth race weekend of the Superformula at Motegi on August 24. A month before the WEC race at Austin, this run and the fourth place were a very good opportunity to prepare for my return to the R18 e-tron quattro.
 
Are you back on the same level with your fitness training as before?

Four weeks ago, I began to extensively do sports again. So, by the time of the event at Austin, I will have been training for two full months. I’m already feeling completely fit again, physically and mentally.

So you’ve long begun to feel excited about racing again?

Absolutely. Even immediately after my accident, it was pretty difficult to watch my team-mates in the Le Mans 24 Hours only on a TV screen instead of being on track myself. Fortunately, I’ll be sitting in the car again at Austin at the end of September – I really like the track, as well as the city.