Emanuele Pirro is no doubt one of the lords of sportscar racing.
He has an outstanding record with, among other achievements, two wins at Sebring, three wins at Petit Le Mans, he has claimed two American Le Mans titles – he has even been rang in Tourism and in Formula 1- but it is above all at Le Mans that his name is engraved. The charismatic Italian driver -one of the first-ever three drivers winning in the 21st century, alongside Frank Biela and Tom Kristensen- has won five times in the Sarthe (2000, 2001, 2002, 2006 and 2007) and has achieved an incredible streak of nine podiums in a row between 1999 and 2007 (front-page : 2002, alongside Tom Kristensen and Frank Biela), a streak which will be hard to beat, Tom Kristensen himself having only seven podiums in a row.
Emanuele has kindly agreed to answer a few questions for Endurance-Info :
Emanuele, you are an International Delegate of the Club des Pilotes des 24 Heures du Mans. What does this function involve ?
“It is an honour to be Vice President of the Club and to be international delegate, which basically consists in approaching potential members who have not applied yet. Not everybody is aware of the existence of the Club and we need to spread the information as widely as possible.”
You have won five times the 24 Hours and achieved nine podiums in a row between 1999 and 2007. What are you most proud of : your five wins or you nine successive podiums ?
“Of course the five victories are something that I could not even dream about but the nine consecutive podiums, it is an achievement that makes me extremely proud. Endurance racing is not only about speed but also about reliability and consistency. Therefore I believe that nine consecutive top three without a stop is an incredible evidence of extreme reliability of the car and as well of a good approach of the three drivers. I am proud to be the only one to have achieved that. I believe a lot in consistency and I have always felt bad if I made a mistake that would compromise the final result. I do not identify myself in the motto “ça passe or ça casse”.
Quelle est votre victoire préférée au Mans?
What is your favorite win at Le Mans ?
“The first of 2000 and the first with a Diesel car of 2006 which was at the time a very sophisticated technology.”
Is there a race at Le Mans that you feel sorry about ?
“I do not like regrets but yes, it is the 2005 edition when I was with Biela and McNish. The car was very fast and I started in the lead in the first three hours when, at the end of a quadruple stint I made a little mistake in the in-lap and we had to change the nose loosing few seconds. Afterwards Allan crashed heavily on an oil patch at the entry of Porsche corners and we ended up third. I feel bad about it because we were really strong. But this is the reason why Le Mans is such a great race. Some other times I won thanks to bad luck or little mistakes of others. It is part of the game.”
Frank Biela was your teammate for your five wins at Le Mans. What can you say about him ?
« Frank was an incredible driver. Super reliable with a very cool temper. When he was behind the wheel I never had to worry. He has a perfect balance between speed and reliability, we had a very good understanding and similar driving stile. I am happy to have been his team mate.”
For a line-up, the harmony is likely one of the keys to success at Le Mans. How did (and still does) Audi manage to create such an alchemy ?
“To have the respect you have to respect the others as well and to have a good harmony you have to give and show good will in order to have it back. The fact that we have been together for many years has helped. Also the fact that we all were at a similar level without superstars was important. Now this attitude is in the DNA of Audi Sport. “
Which car did you like most to drive ?
“Both the R8 and the R10 have been wonderful and very enjoyable to drive but if I have to pick one I would choose the R8. Probably the best sportscar ever.”
Do you have a story about Le Mans, a story that you have never told about ?
“After every victory I have been partying and celebrating the whole night in town and never went to sleep. »
You have been in 1981 one of the youngest starters ever at Le Mans when you were 19 years old, but you came back 17 years later only ? Why such a long break. Had you been disappointed by your first experience ?
“The 1981 edition was a terrible expeience for me. I was very young and in the only one hour I drove in the race I have witnessed two fatal accidents. The first of Jen Louis Lafosse and soon after the one of Thierry Boutsen when a marshall died and other were injured. Afterwords my teammate Gabbiani crashed at high speed and initially they told us that he was dead as well. That was a very big shock for me. Then my career took another direction until we came back with Audi. It was love at first site. »
You are regularly racing in Historic events, Classic Endurance Racing or Le Mans Classic with Gianluca Ratazzi. Did you always have a passion for historic races and does it enjoy you still ? Can you say some words about Gianluca ?
“Gianluca Rattazzi is a great example for many others. He is a gentleman, in the real sense of the word, and a very smart man who dedicated a great part of his life to business and afterwards decided to fulfil his everlasting passion for race cars. He is racing for pure passion and not to win at all cost. This is the way I see historic racing. Enjoy driving beutiful cars to the best of your abilities and not beyond, respecting the car and the other competitors. I always look for a car owner that makes the whole week-end a pleasure of being together. »
During Le Mans Classic, you have been driving a Lancia Beta Monte-Carlo, as in the 1981 24 Hours. Was it special for you ?
“I was supposed to drive that car but I didn’t do it at the end. I really hope to do it next time.”
When you were a young driver, who were your favourite drivers ?
“Mario Andretti and Emerson Fittipaldi for their longevity and versatility.”
How do you see the future of the 24 Hours ? Do you think that the current rules are satisfactory ? What changes could you suggest ?
“I am a member of the FIA Eundurance Commission and therefore I try to give my contribution to the category. I personally believe that Le Mans should be a balance between a race of men and a race of technology.”
