Q & A with Peugeot's Serge Saulnier

Serge Saulnier - Peugeot's team manager: We are not looking for a particular profile but rather drivers that have certain qualities. Speed of course, but also consistency.

A driver who knows how to get the best from his vehicle in all conditions, especially changes in the track, whilst being able to master the traffic and, of course, someone who is in excellent physical condition.

An interest in driving for Peugeot and the ability to rise to the challenge, were equally predominant factors. I initially looked at those from Formula One or the young ex F1 drivers.

Despite what you may think, there are not that many of them who have these qualities.

Q. Do you have any limitations regarding nationality?

SS: It's obvious that a manufacturer such as Peugeot cannot have a wholly French team in such a large scale programme. Nevertheless I have received no particular guidelines. To start with I set my sights on a German and English driver. But a lot of them were signed up to drive for Formula One.

Q. How did you go about choosing the drivers?

SS: We got together at Peugeot Sport on 4th September. We already had a few ideas and combined these with ideas from Jean-Pierre Nicolas and Michel Barge. The phone never stopped ringing. I was even contacted by GP Masters drivers who surprised me with their motivation and their young thinking.

I was equally surprised by the young drivers. All these boys dream of only one thing, to try their luck in Formula One. I understand them but isn't it a great opportunity to became part of a manufacturing team at 20 - 25 years old? Michael Schumacher, Karl Wendlinger and Heinz Harold Frentzen have all taken this route.

I think that endurance racing with a main stream manufacturer such as Peugeot is an excellent preparation for Formula One. I therefore adopted a more classic plan with experienced drivers who have an average age of 30. All my choices were of course confirmed by Michel Barge, as well as Bruno Famin and Paolo Catone for the technical side. They too have their opinion on the question.

Q. Jacques Villeneuve and Marc Gene do not have endurance racing experience, why did you choose them?

SS: Jacques is someone who has turned up and won every competition that he's undertaken. I'm thinking particularly of the Champcar Indianapolis 500 Miles or the Formula One World Championship. I like his sporting spirit and knew that he'd dreamed of taking part in the Le Mans 24 Hours.

When I contacted him, he convinced me, he could become the first driver in the world to win Formula One, Champcar, Indianapolis and the Le Mans 24 Hours.

Marc Gene has a key job with Ferrari. He is a brilliant stand in driver, who is very capable of replacing more senior Formula One drivers.

Q. How will the teams be made up?

SS: We're not yet certain; we need to do a few test runs. Size is obviously an important factor but also affinity and the impression of the car. Nicolas, Stephane, Pedro and Marc will take part in the complete programme for 2007. Sebastien and Jacques will join them for the Le Mans 24 Hours.

In the meantime, they will all clock up the miles. All six will systematically attend the 24 Hour simulations. At the same time Eric Helary will be a great attribute in the car's development and as a reserve driver.