Hulkenberg: Le Mans is an old track for real men

Le Mans is a circuit for real men of motor racing claims Nico Hulkenberg, who has qualified a strong third overall for his debut in the fabled 24 hour race set to take place this weekend.

“Driving here is fascinating,” the German, who is combining his part-time Porsche seat this year with formula one, is quoted by Globo. “It’s an old track, for real men. You really have to pay attention!”

As for the difference between endurance sports car racing and F1, he said: “It is different, but it’s not that hard to get used to.

“When you hear ‘endurance’, you think of saving the car and tyres. But very quickly I learned that’s not right. The tyres are very consistent and this enables you to really push,” added Hulkenberg.

“It’s special and unique. I obviously know and have worked in the F1 environment in the last few years, it’s different, for sure, and here things are more open. Obviously there are more fans and people around who hunt you down for photographs and autographs but that’s OK, you just have to fight your way through.”

“Otherwise I think the magical feeling and the atmosphere will build when we get closer to closer to the race,” he explained.

The 27-year-old revealed that he has been helped on his learning curve by Porsche stablemate Mark Webber, who left formula one completely at the end of 2013.

The straight talking Australian is among those who regret the direction F1 has moved in over the past half-decade.

“When they changed the rules and with (tyre supplier) Pirelli, the G-forces plummeted,” he is quoted by El Confidencial.

“Suddenly, the drivers could be 30 per cent less fit. For us, the most demanding period for speeds, braking and cornering was the mid-2000s.

“The stands were full because the cars looked and sounded fantastic and were difficult to drive,” Webber added.

An interested spectator at Le Mans this weekend will be Hulkenberg’s Force India boss Mallya, who will be trackside in a motor home, Auto Motor und Sport reports.

“Vijay said he would only release me for the race if he could come and watch,” Hulkenberg joked.