Aston Martin Racing factory driver and reigning British GT champion Jonny Adam has described his debut at the 24 Hours of Le Mans this weekend (June 18/19) as the biggest challenge of his career to date.

With 60 entries set to contest the 2016 edition at the famous Circuit de La Sarthe, and cover the equivalent distance of an entire Grand Prix season in just 24 hours, the scale of the test awaiting the crews is daunting.

Scotsman Adam will join an international line-up in the number 97 Aston Martin V8 Vantage alongside regular World Endurance Championship team-mates Fernando Rees of Brazil and New Zealander Richie Stanaway.

The car secured pole in its LMGTE Pro class last year, and the trio are setting their sights high again this time around.

“There is no doubt in my mind this is the biggest challenge of my career to date,” explains Jonny.

“After being confirmed in Aston Martin Racing’s FIA WEC line-up in February my first thought was Le Mans and getting the opportunity to race at the biggest motorsport event in the world.

“It is a race I have dreamt of competing in for years. I’m usually pretty calm before races, but this is the big one and it is such a huge event the adrenaline does start to kick in even during the build-up.

“The Pro class looks extremely competitive with the return of Ford along with Ferrari, Porsche and Corvette. There are so many highly experienced teams and drivers involved it will definitely produce close racing over the 24 Hours.

“We have a great team here at Aston Martin Racing though, and a car which the engineers and mechanics know very well. It’s tried and tested and this could be key to success come Sunday afternoon in an event where anything can happen.”

Having flown directly to Le Mans after the latest British GT round at Silverstone on Sunday, Jonny took time to give an insight into his preparation for the 24 Hours.

How does your approach to the Le Mans 24 Hours change compared to a regular two or three hour GT race?

The main difference is preparing for the length of the stints. We could be in the car for over three hours at a time so good training and hydration has been the focus over the last few weeks. The car isn’t too physical to drive thankfully, and between the drivers in the #97 Aston GTE we have working on getting our seat inserts as comfortable as possible for each driver back at the workshop so we know we’re going to be as comfortable as possible. That attention to detail can make an enormous difference to performance over the over the race distance.

What’s tougher in a 24hr race – the physical or mental aspect of it?

The mental approach is the toughest part of any 24 hour race. It’s a different mind-set to say a two hour sprint race. You need to take zero risks but to be as consistent as possible when on track, from lap times to racing lines. Everything has to be perfect every lap and that takes 100% concentration. It’s hugely demanding, and if you’re not also physically fit enough that can really count against you.

What’s your favourite part of racing at the La Sarthe circuit?

The Porsche Curves. It’s such a fast flowing section of the lap that requires commitment but also the correct racing line. Apex speeds are high and you really feel the aero grip though this area. It’s a great feeling when well executed!

It’s the biggest motor race in the world. Aside from driving, how much more is there to deal with at Le Mans outside of the car in terms of media, fans, and sponsors duties?

There is a lot more media attention around this race compared to anything that I have experienced because of the history that follows this iconic race. It’s the blue riband event of the World Endurance Championship and it’s a race Aston Martin as a brand and manufacturer wants to succeed in. The days before the race you get a lot of media hype and attention but it’s great to be part of, and we have a lot of guests and sponsors at the race so we always aim to put on a great show for them.”

How much difference is there in terms of setup in the car compared to a normal WEC round?

We run in low downforce trim for Le Mans due to the nature of the track, and straight line speed is so important as we are on throttle for so long around the lap. The car needs a comfortable set up as weather or track conditions may change through 24 hours of racing. Normally the track evolves and grip increases as more rubber is put down by so many cars, so we have to take that into account when setting up and working with Dunlop on the correct tyre choices.

There are quite a few Scottish drivers involved, is there anyone that you have a friendly rivalry with that you’ll be keeping an eye on?

I had a really fun race last time out in WEC at Spa with Marino Franchitti who’s in the new Ford GT. All the Scottish drivers know each other and get on well so it would be nice to be the top Scot in our class, but everyone is out to impress and it’s guaranteed to be a tough battle!