This weekend’s 24 Hours of Le Mans, which starts on Saturday afternoon, will not only be a stepping stone to Ford’s entry in the Hypercar ranks next season but an epic experience in its own right and a chance to improve upon his near-miss with the podium in 2022.
Priaulx’s No 77 Proton Competition Ford Mustang GT3 showed promising speed on Wednesday in qualifying top of the LMGT3 class – following the disqualification of the leading Corvette for excessive strake wear on the diffuser – ahead of the ensuing Hyperpole sessions, which settle the final grid.
‘Obviously Le Mans is one of the biggest races on the planet,’ the 25-year-old Guernsey driver said.
‘It’s always been a dream of mine to race there, and this is my second time and now I feel ready more than ever.
‘It will be my first time racing at Le Mans with Ford and competing at the front is the aim.
‘You always learn when you go to this race, so for me, it’s going to be about doing the best I can and also getting prepared for Hypercar in 2027.
‘I’m just very excited to be there again and in with a chance to have a podium, or even better – a win.’
Priaulx’s podium prospects in 2022 had come undone with a loose bolt in the suspension, having been on track for a top-three in GTE Am with two hours left.
He has already been in action on the continent for this season’s European Le Mans Series, where he finished eighth in the previous round on French soil at Le Castellet.
This comes alongside his endurance experience built in races like the Rolex 24 at Daytona within the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Challenge.
But, ahead of joining Ben Tuck and Eric Powell for this legendary event, he spoke of the different challenges they face at Le Mans.
‘It’s very dark and the conditions change a lot, so it’s a different way of working,’ he added.
‘It’s good to re-learn the racing, what happens at night here, if it’s damp, whatever.
‘The slow zones here are also very different to IMSA, so it’s good to refresh my mind.’
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